Innovation in the air: teleferic/aerial cable cars as low-carbon sustainable tourism mobility
About this good practice
Resources needed
Capital costs can vary widely depending on the context, with most systems ranging between 10-15 M EUR per km. Systems for moderate hilly areas have lower costs compared to mountainous and cross-river systems.
There are needs for an EIA and to respect safety and security rules.
Legal framework.
Evidence of success
The unique advantage of cable cars is their ability to climb steep hills at a fraction of the investment cost of a new tunnel or bridge. They are also often faster to implement than building new roads.
Connecting hilly areas and tourist sites by low-carbon aerial cable cars can bring considerable travel time savings and other socio-economic benefits due to direct linkages and the absence of constraints from road traffic.
Cable car systems show very positive impacts on the visitor experience.
Potential for learning or transfer
The possibility of developing a new cable car should be considered on a case-by-case basis as part of a thorough and comprehensive planning process, including an analysis of alternatives, costs and benefits. Even where cable cars are selected as a viable, lower-cost, and agile solution, there should be careful attention to its design, network integration, O&M, and long-term sustainability. Procurement and technology transfer is also key considering that only a handful of cable car manufacturers in the world have the know-how to build and operate these systems.
Cable car systems offer a low-carbon, innovative, economical, and complementary solution that could help many touriust destinations with sustainable mobility and accessibility of visitors to hilly, mountainous, or cross-river sites.
The experience of aerial cable car systems, such as the 'London Air Line', is valuable for transfer to, and learning by, tourist destinations looking for low-carbon sustainable mobility solutions.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Transport for London