The objective of the feasibility study commissioned by the state of Tyrol in spring 2020 was to investigate the basic feasibility of ropeway systems in public transport in Innsbruck and the surrounding area and to compare them with the systems commonly used to date, as well as to ascertain and identify obstacles and areas of conflict in addition to traffic effectiveness and economic viability.

Sensible and senseless lines?

The project team examined all possible connections between station points and evaluated them using a criteria grid. In particular, travel times, feasible routes without crossing settlement areas, wind stability and the positioning of possible stations at traffic hubs were key issues that were reviewed.

Finally, the traffic effectiveness, i.e. the realistic use of a cableway on a typical working day as well as on Sundays and public holidays, was examined for all remaining possible and reasonable cableway connections. Possible shifts from bus traffic to a ropeway system were calculated, as were potential transfers from the car to an attractive new ropeway system.

The west does not work

After this step, the variants in the direction of Hungerburg or into the western low mountain range had to be eliminated, in particular due to insufficient traffic impact and the lack of a route corridor.

The east is promising

The investigations of the promising routes, on the other hand, were further concretized in the last study phase.

For example, it was necessary to examine in greater depth how possible station locations could be served by a new bus system, how the bicycle could possibly become a means of transportation suitable for everyday use in the low mountain range by means of a cable car system, and what opportunities could arise by linking everyday traffic with leisure and tourism traffic.

In any case, promising ideas have emerged for connections between Innsbruck and the eastern low mountain range, which make a more in-depth investigation seem sensible.

This would provide operators with relief during peak traffic times in the greater Innsbruck area and raise public transport to a “new level”, not only in the proverbial sense.