Italian-based ropeway manufacturer Leitner is installing multiple new chairlifts in Austria this summer, as well as upgrading a historic old lift. | Credit: Leitner
Despite being deep in the offseason, resorts across Austria are having a busy summer with their new chairlift projects.
Austrian ski resorts Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Kreischberg, Glungezer, and Venet Bergbahnen are each receiving lift upgrades this summer from Italian ropeway manufacturer Leitner. The projects range from introducing a new chairlift system to the modernization of a historic lift, each aimed at improving capacity, comfort, and guest experience.
Both Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and Kreischberg will be receiving new high-capacity chairlifts this summer to move skiers more efficiently while offering a more comfortable ride.
Located in Tyrol, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is getting a detachable 8-seat “Planseggbahn” chairlift to replace its old six-seater of the same name. The new, state-of-the-art chairlift brings greater comfort and higher capacity on a popular route at the resort. The lift — which features heated seats, weather protection bubbles, and child-safe safety bars — significantly increases capacity to 4,000 people per hour and has a much higher travel speed to shorten the ride. The facility is also equipped for autonomous station operation thanks to LeitPilot, which uses sensors and camera networks to help operations.
Central Austria’s Kreischberg is also receiving a new eight-seat, high-speed detachable chairlift, called Rosenkranz, to replace the resort’s aging two-seater. Like the Planseggbahn, Rosenkranz boasts a capacity of 4,000 passengers per hour, a heated seat system, and high-comfort chairs.
Glungezer’s New ROPERA Lift
Glunzenger’s new lift will be Austria’s first with Leitner’s new ROPERA system. According to Leitner, ROPERA lifts are designed to provide high performance, operate more quietly, improve worker safety, and reduce life-cycle costs. It also uses a new tensioning system and a modular station design to make maintenance easier.
Glungezer’s ROPERA lift will be a six-seater connecting the area of the former Kalte-Kuchl valley station with the Schartenkogel summit. It replaces the 2-seater chairlift Schartenkogel and the long-dismantled drag lift Kalte Kuchl, and it will have premium chairs with heated seating.
Upgrades to the Historic Vetenbahn
Leitner’s summer projects in Austria round out at Venet Bergbahnen, home of the historic Venetbahn aerial tramway. Leitner is making extensive modernization upgrades to the tramway, including new 44-seater cabins, a barrier-free bottom station, and technical improvements that will improve operations in windy conditions.
Venetbahn, which opened in 1968, carries both skiers and hikers 3,500 meters to the summit of Krahberg, which sits at 2,208 meters above sea level.
The Venetbahn aerial tramway, which opened in 1968, is receiving significant upgrades this summer. | Credit: Tyrol