SI Urban: Mr. Salzmann, why are urban ropeways suitable for temporary purposes?

Stephan Salzmann: Unlike railbound transport modes, cable cars can be built quickly and affordably – in under a year and for just a few million euros. If the route passes over public land, such as down the center of a major street, securing permits is usually straightforward, especially since the installation is time-limited.

Cable cars also require very little land area – just for the support towers and stations. As a result, once operations end, only the foundations may need to be decommissioned; the towers and ropeway technology can be easily dismantled.

In which situations do temporary cable cars make sense?

The most interesting use case is certainly connecting new city districts to the public transport network. When a new quarter is being developed, a ropeway can be built simultaneously to immediately link the area with existing transit lines.

The cable car then operates until, for instance, a metro line extension is completed – which, as we know, usually takes several years. As ropeway planners, we have already conducted a feasibility study for a real estate developer in a major German city.

Two parallel cable car routes with up to seven sections would connect two existing S-Bahn lines with the planned quarter and an existing hospital. These twelve kilometers of ropeway lines could be implemented quickly and cost-effectively, immediately securing mobility for local residents and employees.

So the cable car serves as a temporal bridge?

Exactly, and that works in existing city districts as well. If you want to quickly cross-connect two subway lines or relieve pressure on existing transport corridors – such as busy bus routes – a ropeway can be an attractive solution. It also literally replaces bridges: if a road or railway bridge is being renovated or rebuilt, a cable car can serve as a rapidly implementable alternative that acts as a temporary “detour.“

Another application is horticultural expos and trade fairs – correct?

That‘s where the idea of temporary cable cars originally comes from. The best example is the system built in 2022 for the Floriade in Almere, Netherlands. It was dismantled after the event ended and re-erected in 2023 for the Federal Horticultural Show (BUGA) in Mannheim, Germany.

But that’s not all: since 2026, the exact same system has been operating as the Diasbahn in the Austrian ski resort of Kappl. The ropeway is, so to speak, in its third life.

How well does this multi-use model work for ropeways?

Unlike alpine systems, urban ropeways are much easier to reuse multiple times because key parameters – such as incline or tower spacing – barely change. With the exception of the haul rope and electrical engineering, almost all components can be reused. Modern ropeway technology has been heavily standardized since the 2003 CEN European standard, which plays right into the hands of system owners.

To what extent is this financially attractive?

On one hand, ropeway owners – such as real estate developers – can move their system from location to location and re-erect it cost-effectively multiple times.

On the other hand, the pre-owned market is currently very attractive: existing cable cars are up to 50 percent cheaper than new systems, saving investors a third of total costs overall.

Demand is correspondingly high and good prices can be achieved – sometimes higher than the book value, even after ten years! Whole systems don‘t always have to change hands either; partial purchases or sales are also common. Working with an expert broker, such as a ropeway planner, is key here.

To what extent do pre-owned systems need to be refurbished?

As mentioned, the rope, electrical system, and control system must always be purchased new. The core ropeway technology, including stations and support towers, can usually be reassembled with minimal effort after maintenance and inspection – provided parameters like rope tensioning force and rope diameter were chosen foresightedly in the first place.

That’s why involving a ropeway planner before purchasing is so vital. The cabins usually undergo a retrofit to achieve a fresh appearance. Where necessary, minor modifications are made – such as removing ski racks if an urban deployment is to follow. Starting out directly with a pre-owned system is therefore entirely realistic, making a temporary urban cable car even more attractive from a price perspective.

Interview: Thomas Surrer