Calag Undertakes Complete overhaul of the Handeck-Gerstenegg and Löntsch water castle cable car cabins

Cable car cabins are subjected to daily, sometimes extreme, stresses over many years. Weather, temperature fluctuations, mechanical strain, and high usage frequencies leave visible and invisible marks on the structure and components. A professionally executed complete overhaul ensures that safety, structural integrity, and appearance are maintained in the long term and that the cabin continues to reliably perform its function in the future.

This was precisely the case for the two industrial railways Handeck–Gerstenegg (KWO) and Löntschl (Axpo). Both systems have been reliable access and material transport railways for their respective power plants for many years and are of central importance to their operation. In close consultation with the operators, the existing cabins underwent a comprehensive overhaul at Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG – with the aim of sustainably extending their service life and bringing them up to the latest technical standards.

Scope of the overall revisions

• Complete disassembly (glazing, doors, floor down to the frame)

• Partial dismantling of the outer and inner sheet metal cladding

• Examination of the frame by an accredited testing laboratory

• Non-destructive testing of load-bearing elements

• Visual inspection and professional repair of corroded or oxidized areas

• Replacement of front panels and selected trim panels

• Renewal of the corrugated sheet metal roof including sealing

• Inspection and readjustment of the roof hatch

• Replacement of the floor panels with new aluminum floor panels

• Installation of a new, CEN-compliant and electronically monitored door lock.

• Sandblasting and repainting of the cabin inside and out.

LSB Handeck - Gerstenegg

The Gerstenegg cable car, with its two cabins, is primarily a works railway of Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO). It is used for internal purposes such as transporting materials and employees.

To ensure that materials and employees can continue to be transported safely, the cabins were completely overhauled and technically upgraded by the Calag-Gangloff team.

LSB Löntsch Water Castle

The cable car to the power plant's reservoir on the Löntsch River has been in operation since 1972. As a single-track cable car, it overcomes an altitude difference of approximately 284 meters over a length of 575 meters.

Today, the railway is operated by Kraftwerk Löntsch AG and used exclusively as a works railway for access to the water tower. It serves as a material transport railway with a payload of up to 5 tons or can alternatively be operated with a 30-person cabin.

The cabin, originally built by De Giorgi, was completely refurbished and upgraded with modern safety features by Calag. Of particular note is the installation of a new CEN-compliant, electronically monitored door lock, which meets current safety and surveillance standards.

We are happy to assist you with any revisions.

As an independent cabin manufacturer and specialized company, Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG carries out complete overhauls for cabins of all manufacturers – structurally sound, compliant with standards and with decades of experience in the construction and maintenance of cable car cabins.

A complete overhaul at Calag is more than just maintenance. It's an investment in safety, value retention, and long-term operational reliability.

https://www.calag.ch/