New Gondola For Bad Gastein (26-May-09)

Bad Gastein, Austria, May 26, 2009 - Austria's Bad Gastein is installing a new eight

Austria’s Bad Gastein is installing a new eight-seater gondola lift which rises in two sections from the resort to the Stubnerkogel summit .

The Stubnerkogel lift is the key facility in Gastein’s ?core skiing territory’ Stubnerkogel – Angertal - Schlossalm. The number of ascents on the first section of the lift during a normal winter is between 300,000 and 400,000 and on the second section between 400,000 and 600,000. It is the only feeder lift from Bad Gastein to the core skiing territory.

The gondola is technically equivalent to the Sender lift which was newly constructed last year and is a single stage carrier in two sections with cabins to seat 8 persons and access even with the ground.

It is 2.6 kilometres long and covers a difference in altitude of 1,136 metres.  Lift capacity will be increased from the current 2,375 persons per hour on the route to 2,800 persons.

Work began on dismantling the old facility at the end of the winter season. During the coming months the Stubnerkogel lift will be newly constructed so that it is completed ready for operation next winter season. The last Stubnerkogel lift was built in 1987 and is in operation in summer as well as winter. Due to its age and the type of construction some spare parts are no longer available. Although the lift is well cared for and serviced, there was an increasing risk of breakdown.

As the Stubnerkogel is exposed to wind, great importance is also attached in this option to the reduction of vulnerability to wind. This is, for example, achieved through reduced height and a change in the position of the supporting pillars - particularly in the sections where the lift enters the stations, higher roller rims, heavier cabins providing better behaviour under windy conditions as well as the use of the latest technology, such as automatic monitoring of the rope position.

The investment costs for the Stubnerkogel lift are around Euro 14.3 million.  It is the largest part of a 16.5 million Euro spend for next winter which will also see run improvements, more snow making and a new bridge. In the last three years alone the Gasteiner lift company has invested 45 million Euro in infrastructure improvements.