Cities, Tourism
Cable Car Instead of Tram: A New Landmark for Kassel?
The topic of a new tram line – or the reactivation of the historic Herkulesbahn from the 20th century – has been on Kassel’s agenda in Germany for several years.
The name “Herkulesbahn” is derived from the monument to the Greek hero at the top of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe – exactly where the tram from the city is planned to lead.
According to the portal Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine, a new analysis by the Kassel Transport Company shows that two routes are feasible.
The first route follows the path of the historic Herkulesbahn, which transported people to Kassel’s landmark from 1903 to 1966 – from the Palmenbad via Neuholland and then through the forest uphill. The second option runs along the street “Im Druseltal”; behind Neuholland, it goes to the Ehlener Kreuz and past the golf course up to the Herkules monument.
Herkulesbahn, 1962.
Costs remain unclear
The transport company has not provided figures for the implementation of the project. Ten years ago, however, the then city building officer Christof Nolda estimated the cost of the tracks at 15 million euros.
He calculated operating costs at 525,000 euros per year, with an additional 2.5 million euros for a new tram. In his opinion, the project would have been beneficial for tourism, but economically unfeasible.
City Climate Councilor Simone Fedderke sees the new “Herkules” tram as a model example of a forward-looking and sustainable connection from the city center to the Bergpark, and as a way to reduce private car traffic to the Bergpark.
Cable car as a potential tourist attraction:
Some politicians are suggesting exploring an alternative to the Herkulesbahn.
CDU Proposes Cable Car
Norbert Wett, the deputy chairman of the CDU party in Kassel, suggested exploring another possible transport solution – a cable car that could run from the parking lot below the castle, via an intermediate station at Hessenschanze, up to the Herkules monument.
He refers to a concept developed together with an engineering firm from Bregenz. The concept highlights, among other things, its good environmental performance, accessibility, short construction time, minimal land use, and benefits for tourism.
However, it still needs to be examined how the cable car would fit with the World Heritage site. According to Wett, the chances that it could be integrated into the Bergpark without problems are considered good, based on a similar case in Koblenz.
According to the politician, the cable car should be implemented and operated by a private company, not by the city. For the city, this could be more economically viable than the Herkulesbahn, considering the associated operating costs.
