The Lauterbrunnen – Grütschalp aerial cableway is resuming operations following a comprehensive modernisation. The centrepiece of the project is a new cabin, which can accommodate 135 passengers. This brings its capacity more into line with that of the already modernised adhesion railway between Grütschalp and Mürren. The new cabin also matches the railway’s colour scheme and will operate unaccompanied in future. 

«With the new cabin, we are providing greater comfort and fulfilling a wish expressed by our guests and the local community for more space», says Stefan Wittwer, manager of the Lauterbrunnen-Mürren Mountain Cable- and Railway (BLM). «At the same time, the entire system has been technically upgraded and prepared for safe and reliable operation in the years to come.» 

In addition to the cabin itself, the suspension assembly and running gear were replaced, and the cabin guidance systems on the supports were adapted. Various safety-related components were also renewed. For example, the mountain railway received a new drive control system, the emergency brake hydraulics were replaced, and the gearboxes and drive motors were overhauled.

During the modernisation of the cableway, the freight transshipment facility at Grütschalp was also thoroughly overhauled and refurbished. This facility is used to transfer goods from the cableway to the freight wagons of the adhesion railway. The transshipment facility is therefore a key element in the supply of goods to the mountain village of Mürren. 

Improved passenger guidance and optimised energy efficiency 

The valley station has also been upgraded: an additional platform ensures that passenger routes are better separated, whilst comfort and safety was improved with new escalators, a new lift and taller platform doors. New workspaces have also been created for the employees.

Another key focus of the modernisation lies on energy efficiency. In a second phase of construction, an additional building will be erected at the mountain station, in which an energy storage system will be installed. In future, the energy generated during the descent can be stored and reused during the ascent. This will significantly reduce the costs of grid usage and the charges for peak power consumption. 

In a further step, a photovoltaic system is to be installed on the roofs of the Grütschalp station, which will feed the energy generated into the new storage system as well. «We are investing not only in modern infrastructure, but also in more sustainable operations,» explains Stefan Wittwer. «Making optimal use of the energy generated on site is an important step in this process.»

The Lauterbrunnen-Mürren Mountain Cable- and Railway's commitment to sustainability has already included the solar panel system on the roof of Mürren station, the recovery of electricity on the adhesion railway, and the fact that, as with all Jungfrau Railways lines, all of its electricity comes from renewable Swiss energy sources.

The cost of the modernisation work carried out to date amounts to around CHF 7.5 million. This does not include the cost of the second construction phase mentioned above.