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Bregenz Pfänderbahn under the microscope

The Pfänderbahn in Bregenz is undergoing an overhaul.

(Bild: Pfänderbahn AG)

From Monday, the Pfänderbahn in Bregenz will cease operations for its fall overhaul. The work will continue until November 29. Instead, the Dornbirn Karrenseilbahn will run throughout the fall. 

If you want to escape the fog and soak up the sun on Bregenz's local mountain instead, you will have to make your way there on foot, by bike or by car in the coming weeks. The Pfänderbahn will be closed until November 29 for its autumn overhaul. The entire system will be inspected and serviced in detail, including an inspection of the cable car's gears and the haul rope by external specialists. The aim is to identify any weak points and material fatigue at an early stage and rectify them immediately.

A very special "experiment" is also planned as part of the inspection: To test the brakes, the cabin will be loaded with containers that hold a total of 6000 liters of water - simulating braking with the maximum weight.

From November 30, the Pfänderbahn will once again be in operation daily from 8 am to 7 pm. On December 6 and 12, the cable car will even run until 10.30 pm, as the popular Pfänderdohle restaurant will be open longer on these two evenings due to events.

Karren cable car runs throughout the fall
There are no such restrictions in Dornbirn. As the Karren cable car has already undergone extensive maintenance this year, there will be no autumn overhaul this year and the cable car will therefore be in continuous operation.

The Karrenseilbahn will run throughout the fall.

(Bild: Juergen Kostelac Dornbirner SeilbahnGmbH)

However, the lift will be shut down for a whole three months from 1 January - during this time, the valley station of the Karren cable car will be completely modernized and the cable car control system replaced. It has not yet been decided exactly when operations will resume.