LEITNER: Innovative premiere - From 2027, the world's first cable car with DirectDrive propulsion will connect Bolzano & Jenesien

With the signing of the contract, the South Tyrolean Transport Structures Corporation (STA) awarded the construction of the new cable car from Bolzano to Jenesien to the consortium of LEITNER, Unionbau, and Elpo. The contract was signed by STA CEO Joachim Dejaco and Giorgio Pilotti, Head of Sales at LEITNER Italy. The new system, with a contract volume of approximately €27 million, will connect the provincial capital with the Jenesien plateau in just over six minutes. Two cabins, each with 45 seats, will operate every 10 minutes at speeds of up to 12 meters per second. Depending on the operating mode, the transport capacity will range between 270 and 350 people per hour. A slight adjustment to the route in the upper section eliminates the need for the originally planned intermediate station. In addition, the valley station will be moved approximately four meters closer to the road.

Thanks to DirectDrive: Energy efficiency and low noise levels are key project features.

Technically, the project represents a milestone: For the first time worldwide, a cable car will be equipped with a direct drive. The drive system, familiar from detachable systems and funiculars, is implemented as a bridge drive – entirely without a gearbox, which increases system availability. This also reduces wear and maintenance and enables energy-efficient operation. The use of the DirectDrive significantly reduces energy consumption. Most importantly, noise emissions are considerably lowered, as gearbox-related noise is eliminated. In addition, the drive room is fitted with sound-absorbing panels to further minimize emissions – a crucial aspect in the sensitive environment of adjacent residential areas. An integrated rescue system ensures high operational reliability. In the event of a main drive failure, two independent emergency drive systems are available. This redundant concept guarantees the safe evacuation of passengers.

The project also sets new standards for the cabins. Planned are panoramic cabins with over 80 percent glazing in a new design. Programmable dimming via polarization allows the transparency of the glazing to be adjusted as needed: when flying over residential areas, the glazing automatically becomes opaque to prevent views into private spaces. After the flight, it becomes transparent again. The cabins are modular and can be adapted as required, from purely passenger transport to combined use – for example, with bicycles.

The running gear also follows an innovative approach: the main components are milled from solid blocks of material, thus eliminating safety-relevant welds. For the first time in a cable car, running gear rollers with an integrated generator are also being used. The roller generator provides an additional, decentralized energy source, thus supporting the cabin's power supply. The new cable car will create a high-performance, technologically groundbreaking connection between Bolzano and San Genesio. Following the completion of the detailed design, construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year, with commissioning planned for 2027.