The ICOMOS organisation (advisor to the UNESCO World Heritage Organisation) is particularly bothered by the design of the existing valley station, as reported by SWR. The modern design of the valley station, which is located directly next to the Kastor Basilica, is criticised as having a negative impact on the cityscape.

An architectural competition has now been held to find designs for the redesign. The winner was the architecture firm Snøhetta from Innsbruck (Austria). The new building could start in the winter half-year 2026/2027, provided UNESCO approves the design.

Authorisation expires at the end of 2025

The new stations are to be wider and higher so that maintenance work on the cable car can be carried out more easily in future. The new design of the stations will blend in with the historical surroundings. The redesign will cost ten to twelve million euros.

The licence for the current cable car expires at the end of 2025 – after which it must be dismantled by mid-2026 if it is not to be renewed.

However, the cable car operator hopes to be able to secure the operation of the cable car in the long term.

The city of Koblenz and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate are behind this goal.