Zermatt To Build Second Lift to Klein Matterhorn

Zermatt has announced today that it will be building a second lift to the Klein Matterhorn, Europe's highest ski-lift served point at just under 3,900m, in time for the 2018/19 winter season.

The new lift will also be the world's highest 3S Gondola (similar to a 'Funitel') lift, carrying 25 giant cabins, each capable of carrying 28 people, on twin cables for added stability like a cable car, but operating on a continuous loop like a gondola or chairlift.

"The new lift to the Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) will be significantly quicker, and the modern cabins will ensure the ride is more comfortable than ever. The 3S gondola lift made by LEITNER ropeways will complement the existing cableway and increase the carrying capacity to Europe's highest cable-car station by 2000 passengers per hour," said a statement from Zermatt's Lift Company.

The lift will be built over three successive summer seasons, beginning this summer, with 100 working days per season. The 25 modern cabins, designed by Pininfarina, renowned for its work on marques such as Ferrari and Maserati, will be fitted with seats inspired by car manufacture and huge panoramic windows.

The lift, which will climb 900 vertical metres in nine minutes, will convey visitors to the Matterhorn glacier paradise in nine minutes. The new cableway is set to start operations in the winter of 2018/19, bringing a significant improvement to the connection between the skiing areas in Switzerland and Italy.

The new lift will run parallel to the existing cable car from Trockener Steg to Klein Matterhorn. A 3S gondola http://www.doppelmayr.com/en/products/3s-gondola-lift/ is not the same as a Funitel http://www.doppelmayr.com/en/products/funitel/

One of the cabins is currently being exhibited at the Interalpin trade fair, according to Pininfarina they are capable of carrying 35 people, 28 seated + 7 standing http://www.pininfarina.com/en/symphony/?category_nav=transportation

This summer they are going to replace the Hörnli T-bar (locally known as Hirli) with a 6 seater detachable chair lift; see page 9 for further details http://inside.zermatt.ch/pdf/ZermattInside-2015-2.pdf

In the near future they are also planning to build a 100 person cable car from Testa Grigia to Klein Matterhorn, a 4 seater detachable chair lift from Breitboden to Rosenritz, an upgrade of the Gornergrat railway rolling stock and a connection to the Monterosa ski area via Cime Bianche.