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ItalianoUpdated 05.05.2022
After almost 38 years of operation, the "Gletscherexpress" will be decommissioned at the end of the current winter season2021/22 and replaced by new railway sets. The new Gletscherexpress will provide guests of the Pitztal Glacier with a significantly improved ride comfort.During the development of the railway, the focus was placed on energy efficiency. In summer, the new glacier express is powered 100 percent by energy from the PV system on the Pitztal Glacier.
St. Leonhard in Pitztal, 4 May 2022. For 38 years, the Gletscherexpress has been taking guests on thePitztal Glacier from the valley station in Mittelberg (1,740 metres) up to the mountain station on thePitztal Glacier at 2,840 metres and back again. At the end of the winter season on the Pitztal Glacier on 8 May 2022, the funicular railway will be taken out of service and replaced by new railway sets. The new Gletscherexpress will start its journey in the coming mountain summer - probably on 15 July 2022.
The development of the new Gletscherexpress, which will remain unchanged in size and capacity compared to the existing cable car, focused primarily on passenger comfort. "The ascent on the new cable car will be quieter and the ride will be much smoother," explains Franz Wackernell from the Pitztal Gletscherbahn. This is made possible by a so-called decoupled chassis, in which the substructure and superstructure are separated from each other.
"By decoupling, we can significantly reduce the noise level in the passenger compartments and ensure a smoother ride. In addition, the wheels of the funicular have state-of-the-art rubber suspension," explains Damian Zenklusen from Doppelmayr/Garaventa, the company commissioned with the implementation. "The new Gletscherexpress in thePitztal is the first funicular with first-class ride comfort based on Doppelmayr's D-Line concept."
Special attention was paid to the energy consumption of the new Gletscherexpress. During the ride, for example, the cable car constantly produces energy - according to the technical principle of a dynamo - which is used for the most important functions in the cable car. This means that smaller and lighter batteries can be installed, which in turn has a positive effect on consumption. "We are particularly pleased that we can operate the Gletscherexpress in summer with 100 per cent electricity from our own photovoltaic system in the area of the mountain station," adds Franz Wackernell.
Comfort was also a priority in the design of the cabins. "The design was developed in close cooperation with the Pitztaler Gletscherbahn and immediately stands out with its striking and clear lines," explains Michael Leithinger from Carvatech, the company commissioned with the cabin construction. "Inside, a larger room volume, a new lighting concept and high-quality materials create a pleasant ambience Whereas in the existing Gletscherexpress the passenger compartments are separated from each other, in the new Gletscherexpress all areas inside can be seen. In addition, a new Kapsch infotainment system provides all guests with up-to-date information and live images of the ascent and descent.
Contact for queries
Patrick Bock, BRANDMEDIA, PR & Communications, tel: +43 5223 22 8 22 - 10, mob: +43 676 704 52 54, mail: p.bock@brandmedia.cc