With the feasibility study completed, the goal of initiator Reto Paul Grimm seems to be getting closer and closer. Because the study speaks very much in favor of the project on the river Aare.

Switzerland’s first urban aerial tramway is to run from the Solothurn train station via the Zuchwil sports center to the development areas of Attisholz North in Riedholz and Attisholz South in Luterbach, respectively.

They would all benefit from a rail link – especially the sports center, where a large number of housing developments are now located.

The feasibility study commissioned by the community of interest has now shown that the project would be both legally and technically feasible.

Major study

The feasibility study, which provides information on the feasibility of a ropeway project, was carried out by the Sutter engineering and planning office. For this purpose, in-house experts and specialists from outside were consulted and relevant documents were viewed.

Among others, the professionals from the ropeway manufacturer DOPPELMAYR/GARAVENTA were available. A basic stakeholder analysis was carried out by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland in order to identify the affected parties.

Central to the process of the study was also the detailed analysis of the specifications regarding environmental, nature and heritage protection. This resulted in proposed changes for the planning of the cableway route:

Even flying over areas under nature protection, even if no support is erected in it, is against the law, because birds in the area are threatened by the gondolas. Taking these conditions into account, two route designs came into being (see picture below).

Connection to the public transport system

The core of the study was also to examine the usefulness of a ropeway as part of the public transport system – and to what extent a ropeway could be connected to it at all.

Currently, the needs for passenger transport to and from the areas Attisholz North and South as well as the sports center Zuchwil are covered by three bus lines – however, deficits can be identified here.

It would be possible to replace the express bus line 10, which currently runs from the Solothurn train station to Attisholz South. Advantages of this would be, for example, the higher frequency of the gondolas, the much better environmental balance, the increased safety, the more comfortable locomotion and the overall increased attractiveness of the region.

Disadvantages are mainly found in the inflexibility of the route between the ropeway supports as well as the existing susceptibility to strong winds, which particularly affects models with only one haul rope.

Further steps

The feasibility study thus shows that a cable car in Solothurn definitely has potential and can expand local public transport accordingly.

In addition, the city will be enhanced by the project and development in the surrounding area can proceed because the population will have better access to the main station.

Now the project is to be presented to the canton. The associated environmental organizations will also be consulted. The goal of the community of interests is to obtain a fundamental preliminary decision from the canton and to create the necessary spatial planning basis so that the project can be assessed at the federal level in a planning approval procedure.

The first steps on the way to the first urban ropeway have been taken. How the further project steps will proceed remains to be seen – the expectations for the project are high at best.