Urban Ropeway “Câble C1” in Paris Begins Operation

(eap) Last weekend, Île-de-France Mobilités officially put the new – and at the same time first – urban ropeway in Paris, “Câble C1”, into operation. Conceived as an extension of Metro Line 8, the installation now connects the city center with the southern suburbs. The ropeway features five stations within the Île-de-France metropolitan area and has a total route length of 4.5 km. Up to 2,000 passengers per hour and direction are to be transported in a total of 105 cabins.

© Photo: Doppelmayr / Laurent GRANDGUILLOT-IDFM “Since 2016, we have pursued an unprecedented expansion of public transport across Île-de-France. Amid the climate crisis, our responsibility is to offer residents real alternatives by strengthening existing lines and creating new connections. The construction of the Câble C1 ropeway represents a unique opportunity to deliver an efficient and innovative transport solution for all residents,” commented Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region and of Île-de-France Mobilités (photo, middle).

The partner responsible for delivering this infrastructure project was the Austrian company Doppelmayr, which installed its “10-MGD” ropeway system equipped with barrier-free “OMEGA V-XL” cabins, each accommodating ten passengers. With a gondola speed of six meters per second, the entire line can be completed in 18 minutes, effectively halving the previous travel time. From the stations, bus connections and bicycle facilities are directly accessible.

© Photo: Doppelmayr / Laurent GRANDGUILLOT-IDFM Arno Inauen, Member of the Executive Board of the Doppelmayr Group, emphasized the importance of the new ropeway: “Câble C1 has already gained remarkable recognition as an innovative urban mobility solution – not only in Europe, but worldwide. We are proud that our technology contributes to sustainably strengthening the transport network in the Paris region. And I am confident that this ropeway will serve as an inspiration for many other cities.”

Ropeways are both a mobility solution and a form of attraction, and they function as efficient means of transport in a wide range of settings, including urban centers, mountain destinations, and leisure resorts. Major cities in Asia as well as in Central and South America, in particular, are currently investing in such infrastructure in order to relieve traffic congestion. ■