Tricable gondola lift

The 3S cable car in Kitzbühel, Austria bridges the Saukasergraben and connects the skiing areas of Kirchberg and Resterhöhe with one another.

The use of only one aerial lift pylon resulted in an unusual span width of 2,507 metres between the valley station and the 80-metre support pillar.

In December 2008, Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia became the first North American resort to install a 3S lift when it opened the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, which connects Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler with Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb.

[1] In February 2018, the Hòn Thơm lift, in Vietnam, became the longest passenger ropeway in the world, at 7.9 km long.

The top station is located at 3821 metres above mean sea level, making it the highest altitude tricable gondola lift in the world.

A second tricable gondola lift up to the Klein Matterhorn from the Italian Testa Grigia valley station was completed in July 2023.

Compared to monocable gondolas, the ”Tri-line” can be built in more challenging terrain and support longer rope spans.

It benefits from proven D-line technology, but with added wind stability up to 110 km/h, less impact on the nature and a higher passenger capacity.

It features 20-person cabins from CWA called ”Stella” with place for twelve sitting and 8 standing, as well as the possibility of doors on both sides for better passenger flow.