Säntis 2026 new construction project reports current status of construction work

Extensive construction work has been carried out at the mountain station over the past few months. The focus was on the so-called wheel platform, where preparatory work for the new cable car was completed. A large portion of the concrete work has now been completed on schedule. Until the upcoming cable car closure, the work will now gradually shift to the valley station.

Construction progress at the mountain station

As part of the "Säntis 2026" new construction project, the new cable car will exert significantly higher tensile forces on the building structure of the mountain station. To withstand these forces permanently and safely, targeted structural reinforcements were necessary. The forces are transferred via new anchors in the rock, which necessitated the reinforcement of the existing concrete walls on both sides, particularly in the area of ​​the wheel platform.

Cable-stayed bollards as central anchoring elements

A key component of the construction work was the installation of the new cable bollards. One new bollard was built for each lane to secure the cables. These are larger than the previous ones and specifically designed to withstand the higher tensile forces of the new system.

In cable car technology, bollards play a central role: they absorb the tensile forces of the track ropes, enable their safe tensioning and provide space for the rope reel with the necessary rope reserve over the entire lifespan of the cable car.

To allow the new cable bollards to be installed while the railway remained operational, they were positioned below the existing bollards. A structure was built using reinforcing steel and concrete to transfer the forces into the surrounding building structure and the rock. Finally, the bollards are lined with hardwood to protect the cables, preventing them from resting directly on the concrete and thus shielding them from mechanical stress.

The fiber optics integrated into the new suspension cables are led out of the cable core in the area of ​​the cable reel, spliced ​​and connected to the network of the summit building.

Structural modifications to the wheel base

The new system also changes the forces acting upon it; while previously each lane absorbed forces of around 1,281 kN, this will increase to 2,518 kN in the future. This almost doubled load necessitated structural reinforcements of the walls.

The concrete walls in the track bed date back to 1935 and are in good condition despite their age. To withstand the increased loads of the new monorail, they were additionally reinforced with bonded reinforcement.

In addition to the installation of the new bollards and the extensive building reinforcements, additional space was created for the new, larger tensioning weight. Extensive concrete cutting work was necessary for the approximately 80-ton tensioning weight.

The work in the track bed took place under special conditions, as the safety and operation of the existing railway had to be guaranteed at all times. Construction work and ongoing rail traffic therefore took place simultaneously in a confined space to avoid disrupting regular train service.

Logistics under demanding conditions

Logistics presented a key challenge. The demolition material generated during dismantling had to be safely removed from the track bed and transported down to the valley. The limited space necessitated the use of an additional chain hoist. For this purpose, an approximately 18-meter-high opening was constructed from the cable car's waiting area through the entire track bed to enable the safe and efficient removal of the concrete blocks.

Outlook and next steps

With the installation of the new cable bollards, the reinforcement of the concrete walls, the extensive concrete demolition work, and well-planned logistics, another important step in the modernization of the Säntis cable car has been completed. The preparatory work at the mountain station has thus been successfully concluded. The next phase will involve dismantling the existing cable car technology and installing the new cable car system, including the new deflection pulleys and the haul rope tensioning weight.

Until the railway line is closed at the end of April, the work will now shift to the valley station. There, the next construction phases of the "Säntis 2026" project will be prepared and implemented.

https://saentisbahn.ch/erlebnis/schwebebahn/neubau-projekt-saentis2026/