After 15 years of planning, the dream becomes reality: the new gondola lift in Flims, the FlemXpress, is under construction. The first two sections are already in operation, with three more to follow. The lift is a world first with unique technology called “Ropetaxi”. It will not only provide access to the Tectonic Arena Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site , but will also make the area around Cassons accessible by lift again.
Since December 2023, the first two sections (Flims-Foppa and Foppa-Startgels) of the FlemXpress are open. Two further sections (Startgels-Segnes and Segnes-Nagens Sura) will opened in winter 2024/25. The final Segnes-Ils Cugns (Cassons) section will follow in summer 2025. The construction work can be followed on an ongoing basis via the video construction diary or on the project website flemxpress.ch. The current construction progress can also be followed live on the website via webcam.
Construction diary episode 7
The latest episode of the construction diary is about the rope of the FlemXpress. It is a so-called Performa rope, which is manufactured by the Fatzer company in Romanshorn. The rope runs practically vibration-free, is low-noise and saves energy. It therefore meets the high requirements, as Curdin Caprez, Head of Projects Lifts/Infrastructure at the Weissen Arena Group, says. Matthias Stacher, Technical Sales Director at Fatzer explains the exact functionality of the Performa rope. The episode also provides an exciting insight into rope splicing – a challenging task.
Timeline
Redimensioning of the Ils Cugns (Cassons) station
The construction project for the planned Ils Cugns station of the FlemXpress is redimensioned. This involves a simplification including a massive reduction in the volume of the mountain station building. The route of the gondola lift and the location of the mountain station will remain as planned. The operation of the lift by the Ropetaxi system will also remain unchanged. In addition to reductions in the building volume and building area, the project simplification also results in reductions in the material to be supplied, the concrete requirement and the excavation/fill. One positive effect of these reductions is, for example, the significantly lower impact on the landscape. For this reason, the environmental organisations Stiftung für Landschaftsschutz, WWF Graubünden and Pro Natura Graubünden also support the project optimisation.
The station will now consist of a lightweight steel structure, similar in appearance to the Flims and Foppa stations. This visually unobtrusive building will blend in well with the landscape. The redimensioning of the station will also require fewer resources and shorten the effective construction time, which are the reasons for Cassons AG’s decision. A new building permit application is required for the structural adjustments with the project change. The plan is to start the concrete work as early as September/October 2024 once the building permit has been obtained.
The station is expected to go into operation in spring/early summer 2025.
FlemXpress: Section 3 support pillars installed
The support pillars for section 3 of the FlemXpress are installed in spectacular fashion. Sections 3 and 4 will be open to guests from the 2024/25 winter season. At the same time, the support pillars of the old Grauberg aerial cableway were dismantled. Many thanks to Bartholet Maschinenbau AG and everyone involved for their efforts.
Commissioning of the first two sections Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Startgels
After a three-year development phase, followed by intensive test runs over two months, the new 10-passenger FlemXpress gondola lift will start operating on Saturday, 23 December 2023 with the opening of the two sections Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Startgels.
Construction work in Startgels, Segnes and Nagens Sura
As soon as snow conditions permit, construction work will resume at the Startgels and Segnes sites. In Startgels, the shell construction has progressed so far that the Ropetaxi (lift technology) will be installed in the summer. The first work for the station is also taking place in Nagens Sura. By the end of 2023, the two sections Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Startgels including stations will be completed.
Last ride and dismantling of the Flims-Foppa-Naraus chairlifts
The chairlift from Flims to Foppa was built in 1945 by the former Flims mountain lift company. It was the world’s first detachable chairlift. In 1947, the chairlift was extended to Naraus with a second section. The lifts were modernised in 1986 and 1989. With the “FlemXpress” construction project, another pioneering project is now being realised on the Flims-Foppa line, thereby continuing the history of innovation in mountain lifts.
On 26 March 2023, the chairlifts run from Flims to Foppa and on to Naraus for the last time. The popular chairlifts are given a fitting send-off with a celebration for locals, tourists, guests and employees before the two chairlifts are dismantled. Only the concrete slabs at the Flims and Foppa stations will remain. The new FlemXpress stations will be built on them in summer 2023. The area around Naraus will no longer be accessible by a lift.
Construction work in Startgels and Segnes
In summer and autumn, the shell of the middle station in Startgels will be built. In Segnes, the excavation pit will be secured and the first excavation work will be carried out. On the section between Foppa and Startgels, the supports will be erected in autumn. Due to the mild temperatures, construction work at both stations is progressing well.
Groundbreaking ceremony FlemXpress at the Flims valley station
After a long period of discussions on variants and votes, the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the FlemXpress takes place at the valley station in Flims. Present were Markus Wolf, CEO of the Weissen Arena Group, Martin Hug, Mayor of Flims, Gabriel Derungs, CEO of Erni AG Bauunternehmung, Claudio Casutt, planner/engineer of CWZ Bauingenieure und Planer AG and Claudio Deplazes, project manager of Cassons AG.
The idea
The Corona crisis and the associated shift in values have forced the Weisse Arena Group to put its future projects to the test. Can planned major projects such as the Cassons development be realised? Will guests still feel safe in large cable cars? In the months following the lockdown in 2020, Reto Gurtner, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors, together with cable car builder Roland Bartholet of Flumser Bartholet Maschinenbau AG and Martin Hug, the Mayor of Flims and then responsible for the lifts and infrastructure division within the Weisse Arena Group, scrutinised the existing plans in days of video conferences and planning sessions.
The innovation
This gave rise to the idea of a tourism lighthouse project with new technology: a fully automatic and demand-dependent gondola lift with several stations from Flims to the Tectonic Arena Sardona UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The new technology called “Ropetaxi” was developed specifically for this project by the Weisse Arena Group and the company Bartholet Maschinenbau AG: The ride on the track takes place unchanged on the cable, as with ordinary gondola lifts. In the station, however, the cabins move autonomously on rails thanks to their own electric drive. If no gondolas are occupied, they are not on the track either. Thanks to the innovative technology, passengers can enter the stationary cabin with luggage or sports equipment without any hassle and absolutely barrier-free. Passengers also have the option of getting on or off at various stations, such as Foppa, Startgels, Segnes, Nagens Sura and Cassons. Guests simply select their destination before starting their journey, which their gondola will then reach fully automatically.
The realisation
The construction of the lift will take place in two stages: By the end of 2023, the two sections Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Startgels will be completed and put into operation. The existing Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Naraus chairlifts will be dismantled in 2023. By 2024, the three sections Startgels–Segnes, Segnes–Nagens Sura and Segnes–Cassons will be completed. In addition, the Startgels–Grauberg aerial tramway will be dismantled. The complete opening of the FlemXpress will follow in winter 2024/25.
Details
Under construction (construction start 2022)
Winter 2023/24: Sections 1 and 2 (Flims–Foppa–Startgels)
Winter 2024/25: Sections 3 to 5 (Startgels–Segnes, Segnes–Cassons, Segnes–Nagens Sura)
- New gondola lift with 6 stations for entry and exit.
- Passenger capacity per gondola: 10 people/ seats
- Passenger capacity per gondola incl. bikes: 5 persons/ bikes
- Transport capacity per hour: up to 1,800 people
- Direct lift access to the Tectonic Arena Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site
- World novelty “Ropetaxi” system
- Up to 50% less energy consumption expected
