New Cabins For The Rigiblick Cable Car

The Rigiblick cable car is being renovated. In addition to commissioning the new cable car, the associated stops will also be modernized. The new cable car will begin operations at the end of September 2025.

New cabins

After more than 45 years of operation, the Rigiblick cable car is ready for the future: On August 19, 2025, the VBZ publicly presented the two new cabins.

The new vehicles not only meet modern technical standards, they also comply with the requirements of the Disability Equality Act (BehiG). Featuring a classic blue and white livery, their design is inspired by modern VBZ trams. Inside, more space, modern passenger information, and a distinctive skylight – inspired by the Rigiblick Theater – ensure comfort and recognition.

With the replacement of the cabins, the control system will also be modernized. The Rigiblick cable car remains a unique piece of technology: fully automated operation, three intermediate stations, gradients of up to 36%—and in operation daily from early morning until after midnight.

Intensive testing will be conducted until the cable car reopens on September 26, 2025. During this time, systems will be tested, employees trained, and processes optimized to ensure the cable car returns to regular service on time and reliably.

The implementation was carried out by Garaventa AG, the design of the new cabins was done by Milani Design & Consulting AG

Fatzer high-performance ropes

The new cable car will be equipped with a high-performance cable from BRUGG-Fatzer. At the end of June, the two new traction cables, each 480 meters long and weighing 1.9 tons, arrived in Zurich from the Fatzer AG plant in Romanshorn. The 32-millimeter-thick hybrid cables were installed in early August 2025.

In 1893, the company A. Grether & Cie. submitted an application for the construction of a tram line running from the Polybähnli mountain station via Rigiplatz-Rigistrasse-Germaniastrasse to Germaniahügel. The goal was to promote the development of the Oberstrass district and the Zürichberg as a local recreation area.

However, the project was never realized. Instead, on April 4, 1901, the Rigiviertel cable car was put into operation—the steepest and (after 1919) the first automatic cable car in Zurich. It ran from Universitätsstrasse to Germaniastrasse.

In its first year, the cable car made 18,000 trips and transported 95,000 passengers.

Around fifty years later, in 1950/51, the old wooden car bodies were dismantled. The cable car received new red car bodies with metal casings.

In 1978, the old Germaniastrasse mountain station was rebuilt. In addition to the complete technical modernization of the cable car in 1978/79, the line was also extended by 80 meters to Rigiblick. The old red cars were replaced by the current blue and white cabins.

The cable car was given a new name, which it still bears today: Rigiblick Cable Car. The new cable car finally entered operation on May 29, 1979. It was the first fully automated, licensed cable car in Switzerland with intermediate stations.

In 2011, the aging electronic control system and drive system will be replaced. In addition, extensive renovation work will be carried out on the car body and chassis.

In summer 2023, Garaventa was commissioned to produce two new cabins and renew the cable car control system. In a separate project, the stops will be modernized to meet revised fire regulations.

The new cabins were delivered on August 12, 2025. One week later, on August 19, 2025, VBZ officially presented the new vehicles to the public.

After successful commissioning, the completely renovated funicular will officially begin operations on September 26, 2025.

Technical data