Cableways by type of installation

The cableway is the principal means of passenger transport in the Swiss Alps. In general terms there are two different types of cableway construction: funicular (ground-based) and air cableways.

Funicular railways
Vehicles involved in a funicular railway run on rails. As a rule there are two carriages on the tracks firmly attached to a wire rope. These carriages act as counterweights. Previously a funicular railway was operated by water ballast, but, these days, an electric motor is used to drive the sheave in the mountain station. In all, there are 52 funicular railways in Switzerland.

Air cableways
Cars involved in an air cableway are carried on one or several cables. The air cableway systems can be differentiated according to their construction (a) or to the type of car (b).

a) Air cableways differentiated according to their construction:

• Shuttle systems have two cars, which travel backwards and forwards between stations. The system can consist of one or two supporting cables. The cars are connected by a traction cable which runs round the drive wheels and tensioning weight in the mountain station. In all, there are 118 air cableways of this sort in Switzerland.
• Orbital systems are characterised by the fact that cars suspended from cables move in a circle and retain their direction of travel. Turning the cars is effected by passing through the stations either with the traction cable round the cable sheave or after separate decoupling at reduced speed.

b) Air cableways differentiated according to the type of car:

• Cable car systems operate, technically, like orbital systems. The cars are attached to the cable with clamps that are easy to couple. Their average capacity is 12 passengers and there are, in all, 121 cable car systems in Switzerland.
• Chair lifts operate, technically, like orbital systems. Seats that can carry an average of 6 passengers are suspended from clamps that are fixed or easily coupled. There are, in all, 344 chair lifts in Switzerland.