Cities
RhyLift: Software engineer’s cable car project for Schaffhausen
In the Swiss city of Schaffhausen, the construction of a new cable car has been proposed. It would run from the Landhaus behind Schaffhausen train station directly up to the roundabout in the Breite district.
The proposed route is approximately 447 meters long. The valley station is planned to be located on an existing building at the train station, while the upper station would be situated near the Breite roundabout.
Interestingly, the idea comes from a local resident: Arthur Weder, who lives in Breite with his family. The software engineer launched the project, called “RhyLift,” as a one-man initiative, according to the media portal Schaffhausen24.
Solution for the mobility problem
As explained on the project website, the connection between Schaffhausen train station and the Breite district is currently a daily bottleneck for thousands of commuters.
According to the project initiator, buses take about 7 to 15 minutes to cover the roughly 447-meter route, depending on traffic conditions. Walking uphill takes more than 20 minutes.
People on bikes have to navigate the steep route on the road, and overtaking cars repeatedly create dangerous situations.
Possible cable car route
How the cable car is designed
The 447-meter-long cable car could have its valley station on the existing building at Schaffhausen train station, providing direct connections to SBB long-distance trains, the S-Bahn, buses, and the cycling network.
The upper station is planned directly at the Breite roundabout, Schaffhausen’s busiest traffic circle. From there, the Breite district, schools, football fields, the KSS leisure park, and other important sports and recreational facilities would be easily accessible.
The station buildings are intended to feature modern wood-and-glass architecture, serving as new landmarks for Schaffhausen that combine functionality and aesthetics.
According to the project initiator’s calculations, three towers would also be required for the route.
Paris as a model project:
The project initiator points to Paris’s urban cable car as a prime example of how cities can effectively tackle traffic challenges.
Project financing
According to Arthur Weder’s calculations, implementing the project would cost around 28 million Swiss francs. Forty percent could be covered by the Canton of Schaffhausen, 25 percent by the city, 20 percent by the federal government, and 15 percent by private investors.
Next steps
Arthur Weder is currently collecting signatures from supporters. He is well aware that, at first glance, his idea may seem somewhat crazy, Schaffhausen24 reports.
“The project is deliberately designed to be a bit provocative. It is meant to attract attention, because sometimes you have to be a little crazy to get a discussion started,” said the Schaffhausen resident.
