A new cable car with three stations is currently being constructed on Monte Tamaro, which is set to establish itself as a forwardlooking project in the Swiss cable car landscape. The modernization of the existing system began in May 2024 and is scheduled to be completed within a year.

Ride over the highway

Starting in the 2025 season, the mountain station will be positioned closer to the Alpe Foppa restaurant, necessitating an adjustment to the cable car route. A special highlight:

just as before, the gondolas will continue to cross the A2 highway, making the riding experience spectacular and serving as a model for urban cable cars that often intersect with traffic routes.

The panorama gondolas designed by Studio F.A. Porsche are also in use for urban cable cars.

Ride in panorama gondolas

The new 8-person panorama cabins, designed by Studio F. A. Porsche, guarantee maximum comfort and unparalleled views of the Ticino mountains. This innovation in gondola design offers space for eight passengers and sets new standards in design and functionality, making it of interest for urban projects as well.

The technical implementation of this large project is handled by the Swiss cable car manufacturer BARTHOLET, known for its expertise and innovative strength.

In addition to numerous alpine projects, the company has completed several urban projects, including those in Brest (France), Istanbul (Turkey), Puebla (Mexico), Druskininkai (Lithuania), and Vetruse (Czech Republic). The large project in Varanasi (India) is currently in full swing.

Operations during construction

Back in Switzerland: Despite extensive construction work, the summer season of 2024 could take place without significant disruptions for visitors to Monte Tamaro. Thanks to efficient planning and tight time management, restrictions for guests were minimized. This allowed operations at the popular excursion destination to continue while preparations for the upcoming generation of gondolas were underway.

More comfort and environmental protection

The new cable car will significantly enhance ride comfort. Barrier-free access and improved ventilation ensure that every guest can enjoy a pleasant riding experience – essential for projects in urban areas.

Special attention has also been given to landscape integration. By reducing the number of towers from 29 to 19, the landscape remains as untouched as possible. The new stations will be more compact, and the valley station will be equipped with a photovoltaic system to ensure sustainable operation.

The drive will be located in the basement to reduce noise levels. An electrically operated circulation with tire conveyor will allow for flexible adjustment of gondola speed.

This means gondolas can be slowed down or even stopped when passengers are boarding or alighting, ensuring a particularly comfortable and safe experience for guests. Conclusion: Few towers, compact stations, solar power: these are also characteristics of urban cable cars.

Private investment with vision

The fully privately financed project is made possible by the main shareholder Luca Cattaneo, the company itself, and the trust of Banca Stato. This investment aims to establish Monte Tamaro as an attractive excursion destination in the long term – a goal that tourism officials in cities also share.

With the new cable car, not only is the infrastructure modernized, but a strong signal towards environmental sustainability is also sent. The collaboration with BARTHOLET has proven ideal for meeting high standards of comfort and sustainability – requirements that urban cable car operators also strive for.