An opening date has been given for the long heralded new cable car that will link Mrziner and Avoriaz in the French Portes du Soleil – and unusually it's right in the middle of the ski season.
The new lift, which uses three cables or '3S technology' to combine the benefits of a cable car and a gondola will be operational from 15th February 2013.
The lift will rest on two cables like a cable car for maximum stability, but will move continuously around the circuit like a cable car, with seating for 35 in each of the cabins, giving an overall uplift capacity of between 2000 and 2400 passengers per hour.
Ascending 580 vertical metres at an average speed of just over seven metres per second it will arrive in Jean Vuarnet square in Avoriaz in just four minutes, and with new top station built partly underground, skiers will arrive at ground level. So faster, with more capacity, more confort and better passenger flow than the old lift it replaces.
Another major new attraction at Avoriaz is already open in advance of the coming ski season however. The giant Aquariaz indoor water park opened in July.