Urban mobility on the Plus-1-level: all roads lead to Essen

The Plus-One Level – where cable cars also operate – is increasingly coming into the focus of urban transportation planners. Next year, the Plus-One Level will once again take center stage at the mobility fair "Cable Car World – home of new urban mobility."

Among other technical solutions such as monorails that connect the space above street level, i.e., the Plus-One Level, cable cars are often at the forefront of consideration when it comes to expanding public transportation.

The fact that urban installations are now seen in many places as equivalent alternatives to conventional urban transport modes like buses, trams, or subways is demonstrated by their successful global implementation.

Cable car companies native to the Alpine region, such as DOPPELMAYR, LEITNER, BARTHOLET, or POMA, are already building urban cable cars in many parts of the world. These projects are no longer limited to South America.

The European market is just beginning to grow significantly. Cable cars are a topic in almost every major city in France, especially. Installations in Toulouse (opened in 2022, POMA) and in Paris (under construction, DOPPELMAYR) are groundbreaking.

But the demand for mobility solutions beyond traditional approaches is also rising in other European countries. In Germany, even the Federal Minister of Transport personally advocates for their future use.

Volker Wissing sees opportunities for mobility transition in the Plus-One Level

As the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing is the patron of the upcoming Cable Car World. The German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV) supports the expansion of sustainable mobility, among other things, with funding and sees great potential in urban cable cars.

In November 2022, it published the guide “Urban Cable Cars in Public Transportation” in German and English as guidance for municipalities or municipal transportation companies.

The Cable Car World, during its debut in June 2022, was also a decisive source of information for the realization of urban cable car projects: Several feasibility studies were commissioned during the trade fair.

The Federal Minister of Transport sees urban cable cars as a great opportunity for sustainable mobility in urban areas and highlights the benefits of the Cable Car World: “Examples in densely populated regions of the world show that cable cars are a reliable, sustainable, and quiet means of transportation.

As the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, I am actively advocating for greater visibility of this important future topic in Germany. The Cable Car World in Essen is the appropriate platform for this.

As an international marketplace in the heart of Europe, the trade fair brings together all the competencies and contacts needed for the implementation of cable car projects in urban areas in one place – from the idea to ongoing operation.

I look forward to the next edition once again making a significant contribution to shaping mobility in cities and I enthusiastically take on the patronage of this innovative event format.”

A Mobility Lab explains the advantages of urban cable cars.

High-profile presentations

The CCW is aimed at transport companies, city planners, sustainability and mobility officers from the federal and state governments, cities, and municipalities, as well as other local decision-makers at national and international levels.

At Messe Essen, on June 4 and 5, 2024, trade visitors will find an overview of all relevant manufacturers, service providers, and suppliers related to cable cars.

A Mobility Lab explains the advantages of the mode of transportation in urban areas and invites experts for discussions, while the Science Wall highlights the current state of research and knowledge from the academic landscape.

In addition, the accompanying two-day congress with its high-profile presentations offers the opportunity to deepen knowledge. The event is accompanied by several networking events.

The CCW is aimed at municipal decision-makers at the international level.

Decision-makers at the CCW

Like many visitors of last year’s premiere, Dr. Hans-Martin Neumann from Linz was also convinced by the format. As the Director of Urban Development for the city of Linz, he visited CCW22 along with other city decision-makers to gain insights for the further development of Linz’s public transportation.

His conclusion can be summarized as follows: “I believe this bundling of competencies is very important. For implementations in urban areas, it’s important to think holistically. You need to bring together experts from various disciplines and exchange ideas about design aspects, financing, or acceptance. All this knowledge can be found here at the Cable Car World!”

Planning for the next edition is already in full swing. Participants include, among others, DOPPELMAYR, the global mobility provider Transdev, the engineering office for construction Baucon ZT, and the project management company THOST.

SI will also be on-site again as a media partner to provide comprehensive coverage for its readers.