Since 2012, there has been the idea of a cable car from Merano to Schenna and, in a second step, to Dorf Tirol. At that time, studies by the engineering firm EUT Engineering were circulating, and in 2018 the project was again examined by the South Tyrolean provincial government for a public-private partnership – so far without result.

Now the provincial mobility department confirms to Radio Rai Südtirol that the construction could be made possible by 40 million euros from the reconstruction fund from Rome.

Study

The 2012 study assumed investment costs of 48 million euros and examined four-kilometer-long cable car connections each in the form of funiculars, reversible aerial tramways and circulating ropeways between the communities of Merano, Schenna and Dorf Tirol.

In the route area between Merano and Dorf Tirol, the study had to focus on underground solution options. A total of seven route variants were investigated.

Scope

Specifically, the engineering firm analyzed transportation facilities and station locations and defined route corridors. The seven route variants were evaluated from a technical, ecological and economic point of view with the selection of a proposal variant. Furthermore, the geological-geotechnical processing was carried out.

The functional and architectural study of the stations for the selection variant was carried out in cooperation with “Willeit Niederstätter Architects”. In addition, travel speeds, travel times and transport capacities were forecast and the construction and operating costs were determined.