At the start of the actual participation phase, a public information event was held at the sports centre on 26 June 2025, attended by over 400 people. Further information events were also held on several evenings during the week and on several Saturday mornings in July 2025. 

The documents for public participation in the “First Aerial Cableway Renewal” project were available for inspection at the council offices from 19 June to 18 August 2025 and could be viewed on the council’s website. A total of 90 submissions were received by Grindelwald council before the deadline. The more than 800 proposals were categorised and supplemented with a statement from the local council, summarised by topic. The specific expertise of Jungfrau Railways was also incorporated into the answers.

Participants and topics 

The participants can be divided into the following categories: 76 submissions were provided by private individuals or legal entities. 14 submissions were received from political parties, associations and federations. Comments were made on, among other things, the procedure, capacity and route of the new First Aerial Cableway, the individual stations, the adventure facilities and lake Bachalp. 

A large part of the comments submitted concerned traffic. There was specific feedback on the current plans to replace the First Aerial Cableway, as well as general questions, concerns and suggestions that went beyond the planning stage. One conclusion from this is that the entire traffic situation in Grindelwald, as well as access, departure and parking in general, will be addressed in a separate dialogue process led by the local council – particularly with regard to the renovated First Aerial Cableway. This will form the basis for the “Comprehensive Grindelwald Transport Concept”.

The participation report, which is now available, presents an overview of the interests and concerns of the Grindelwald population and other interest groups. The topics raised in the submissions will be taken into account as a basis for the upcoming planning steps.

Cancellation of the Isch chairlift

Another result of this collaboration is that the plan of transporting winter sports enthusiasts back down the mountain using a new Isch-Bodmi chairlift from the Grindel valley run via Bodmi to the railway station, and thus to the location of the new First Aerial Cableway valley station, will no longer be pursued. This conclusion was reached by First Aerial Cableway officials on the basis of expected climate change, and in consultation with municipal officials following in-depth investigations. It became apparent that the quality of the return journey and, in particular, the connection between the current end of the Schybersboden piste and the new valley station could not be completed in an appealing and meaningful manner.

An alternative return route from Stählisboden to Bort or Schreckfeld was also considered within the scope of the route planning for the new First Aerial Cableway, but this would make neither ecological nor economic sense. In this context, an attractive ski bus connection from Stählisboden to the railway station remains essential. Alternatively, some guests will continue to take the ski run down to Bort and return directly to the valley by gondola.

Next steps

After the planning documents have been adapted to take into account points raised during the consultation process and the parallel quality assurance procedure focusing on the townscape, the volume of buildings and design principles, the cantonal preliminary review will be carried out by the Office for Local Authorities and Spatial Planning (AGR). This will be followed by a public consultation and, finally, a decision by the eligible voters of Grindelwald municipality at the local assembly. 

The results of the separate traffic dialogue process, which will be incorporated into an “Overall Transport Concept for Grindelwald”, will be taken into account in the planning of the First Aerial Cableway renewal.

Link to the Grindelwald local council participation report: https://www.gemeinde-grindelwald.ch/mitwirkung-firstbahn/