In January 2019, Mayor Milan Bandić and Minister of State Property Goran Marić signed a contract to release land for construction of a ropeway to the summit of Zagreb’s local mountain. The popular local recreation area and ski resort attracts many visitors and active holidaymakers, and even the local population likes to spend time on Sljeme.

The ropeway connection from the city to the surrounding area in the north is therefore a project that is very close to the hearts of many residents in the region.

During the bidding process for construction of the new system, three offers were received, from which the contract was ultimately awarded to Austrian ropeway manufacturer DOPPELMAYR/GARAVENTA.

On the upper section of the route, there was a ropeway previously, although it had been decommissioned. The new system will breathe new life into the old connection and expand the provision for passengers. Whereas the original ropewaywasusedpurelyforwinter sports,anurbancomponentwillnow be added to the new route.

The new track will be connected to the public transport network, as the lower station is located very close to a tram station, which will also be modernised as part of the project. Operation is designed for the entire year; the system will function as an excursion railway in the summer and additionally as a shuttle to the ski resort on Sljeme in the winter.

The detachable 10-passenger gondola ropeway system, which will be around five kilometres long, will have a total of four stations. The first intermediate station will serve to divert the route, the second will have an underfloor drive that powers two cable loops together by means of a double-groove cable sheave.

Constructionworkiscontinuingon schedule,despiteunexpecteddelays in the summer of 2019, such that there should be nothing to prevent opening on 31st May 2020 for the Zagreb city festival.