Cableways Impact Assessment Study - Final Report - saferail.nl

Risk & Policy Analysts
From Table 2.34 it is clear that a cableway installation can cost as little as €40,000 or
as much €72 million. Smaller, uncomplicated cableways (such as drag lifts) which do
not require buildings or numerous pylons are significantly cheaper than larger
cableways (particularly gondolas and funiculars) which are more complex by nature.
However, with the reduced price tag also come reduced travelling speeds and lower
capacity levels. Surface lifts are also typically employed over shorter distances
against a smaller incline. It is also evident that fixed grip technology (where the
vehicle transporting the passenger moves continuously and all vehicles are required to
stop at the same time) is cheaper than detachable technology (where the vehicle
detaches from the cable to allow easier loading and unloading). Although fixed grip
cableways can achieve greater speeds they typically experience longer waiting times
as a result of reduced capacity levels (The Gondola Project, 2012). Furthermore,
detachable technology permits the introduction of mid-stations and corners on the
cable route (The Gondola Project, 2012). Across all product categories it appears that
price is influenced by the length of the cableway installation and the number of
vehicles on the cable (which in turn impacts upon the capacity of the cableway).
Table 2.35 presents data from a recent French report prepared by CERTU, STRMTG
and CETE 11 , regarding the use of cableways as urban public transport systems. The
Table presents estimates of the costs involved in the installation of monocable and
tricable cableways in an urban environment.
Table 2.35: Breakdown of Cost of Investment for Monocable and Tricable Cableways
System Monocable Tricable
Drive Station (including electromechanical equipment
and structural building, excluding architectural design €2.5 - €3 million €4 - €5 million
and special measures).
Intermediate Station
€1.2 - €1.5 million
Return Station €1 million €3 - €4 million
8-10 seater cabin €30,000 -
35 seater cabin - €300,000
100 seater cabin - €1 million
Pylon €100,000 €500,000
Source: CERTU, STRMTG & CETE (2011)
As is further elaborated in Table 2.35, prices of cableways vary depending on the
specifications of the cableway and the type of cableway selected. It is also important
to note that the cost of the cableway also includes the cost of, for example, stations
and buildings, civil engineering and construction work. Examples are provided in
Box 2.1 and Box 2.2 (overleaf) to provide further detail into the costs associated with
two recent cableways installations.
11
CERTU = Centre d’Etudes sur les Réseaux, les Transports, L’Urbanisme et les Constructions
(Research Centre for Networks, Transport, Urbanism and Constructions). STRMTG = Service
Technique des Remontées Mécaniques et Transport Guidés (Technical Service for Cableways and
Guided Transport). CETE = Centre d’Etudes Techniques du Sud-Ouest (Centre of Technical
Equipment Studies in South West France)
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