Schauinslandbahn: Extensive Overhaul, New Ticket System, Stable Passenger Numbers
At the Schauinslandbahn’s annual press conference, VAG presented the innovations of the past few months.
Stable passenger numbers, a new digital payment system, the expansion of the workshop and greater accessibility for those traveling without a car from the city center to the Schauinsland: Freiburger Verkehrs AG (VAG) presented innovations for the Schauinsland cable car at its annual press conference and drew a positive conclusion for Germany's longest circulating cable car.
After the revision is before the revision: The autumn revision will be tough
It goes without saying that a cable car that's almost 95 years old requires regular maintenance. 16 qualified cable car technicians from VAG ensure smooth operation every day, performing a total of more than 230 maintenance blocks and inspections of the cable car's technology each year. "That represents about 98 percent of the work required," reports Günter Voigt, Technical Director of the Schauinslandbahn.
On March 28, the first of two scheduled annual overhauls was completed. "This time, we worked on many details. On readjusting limit values and parameters, on wear detection and correction. We refilled the lubricant reservoirs and tested all shutdown devices. The supervisory authority then carried out its inspection," explains Voigt. As usual, braking system experts and a control system engineer from Switzerland provided expert advice and active support to the technicians of Germany's longest circulating cable car. "The high level of coordination required was particularly challenging during the past work," Voigt continues. Despite this, everything went according to schedule, and the cable car has been transporting passengers again since March 29.
From a technical perspective, an even greater undertaking awaits in the fall: In addition to the regular overhaul, suspension cable number 4 will be replaced. Instead of the usual three weeks, the extensive work will then take five weeks (from November 3 to December 5, 2025). Unlike the previous suspension cable, the new one will be equipped with fiber optic cables integrated into the cable. These will then form the basis for a high-performance IT connection between the mountain, middle, and valley stations. "This will be important and comprehensive work," explains Voigt.
During the overhaul, the cable car technicians are banned from vacation for this important and comprehensive work. "The employees are happy to accept this," says Voigt. "A overhaul offers them the opportunity to familiarize themselves very closely and intensively with the technology of their system."
Workshop expansion enables shorter maintenance intervals
The modernization and expansion of the workshop at the mountain station was completed a few months ago. The reason for this expansion is a positive one: passenger numbers have steadily increased since the renovation in 2012/2013 to their current level. More trips also mean more maintenance of the running gear: after 8,500 completed cabin trips, running gear overhauls are scheduled. Instead of every 36 months for a cabin, the average interval between these routine tasks is now 24 months. "With an additional room added to the first floor of the mountain station, we have further optimized workflows and spatially separated different activities," explains Günter Voigt during a tour of the technical rooms.
Stable passenger numbers despite mixed weather in 2024
Sun on the Schauinsland, fog in Freiburg: "The inversion weather at the end of 2024 has given us a good annual balance," says VAG board member Stephan Bartosch, drawing a positive conclusion with regard to passenger numbers in the past year. With 345,094 journeys on the Schauinsland cable car, VAG was largely able to maintain its good performance from 2023 (345,727 journeys) in 2024. Mixed weather in the spring and very high rainfall in the first three quarters had previously had a negative impact on passenger numbers. In addition to scheduled maintenance, there were 14 closure days due to storms and a damaged tree. The cable car had to remain closed for five more days because the Verdi union was on strike throughout the VAG. "We had some adverse conditions. This makes it all the more gratifying that we were able to count more than 3,000 passengers on several days in the fourth quarter," says Bartosch. The overall trend in passenger numbers is upward: Compared to the years before the renovation in 2012/2013, the Schauinslandbahn has recently recorded a constant increase of around a third in passengers per year.
New ticket system for more flexible bookings and shorter waiting times
The Schauinslandbahn cable car used the time during its recent spring overhaul to switch to a new, digital ticketing system. Passengers can now conveniently purchase their tickets from home, receive them by email, and download them to their smartphone or print them out. Potential waiting times at the ticket counter are eliminated. Previously, passengers could order tickets from the VAG online shop. However, these were not immediately available and had to be sent by mail. In addition to the ticket sales points, ticket machines were installed at the valley and mountain stations.
"Digitalization isn't stopping even the 95-year-old Schauinslandbahn," says Tobias Kunz, the Schauinslandbahn's commercial director. Vouchers for the Schauinslandbahn will soon be available for purchase online and on-site. "Those looking for a last-minute gift for their loved ones can then spontaneously print out a voucher for the Schauinslandbahn at home or forward it by email," Kunz continues.
Regional green electricity for the Schauinslandbahn
VAG will purchase two million kilowatt hours (2 GWh) of electricity from the new wind turbine at Taubenkopf. This will cover the entire electricity needs of the Schauinslandbahn and almost ten percent of VAG's total electricity needs. This is the first time that VAG has concluded a direct supply contract with an electricity producer. Such a cooperation is rare in the energy-intensive transport sector. The VAG's vehicle fleet, in particular, has a high energy demand. A comparison demonstrates the power output of the wind turbines at Taubenkopf: the entire VAG requires 22.8 gigawatt hours of electricity per year – slightly more than the 18 gigawatt hours generated annually by the two Taubenkopf wind turbines. Thanks to the direct contract, the Schauinslandbahn will be powered 100 percent by regional and renewable energy. "While traveling on the Schauinslandbahn, our guests can now see exactly where the electricity comes from when they look out the window," says VAG Board Member Oliver Benz. The two wind turbines can be seen on the ascent in the lower half of the route. With the new contract, VAG is securing stable electricity prices in the long term and setting an example for sustainable mobility.
Barrier-free access to Freiburg's local mountain
Since the end of 2023, barrier-free travel by public transport and cable car to the Schauinsland has been possible throughout. The VAG has invested around €500,000 in the barrier-free conversion and expansion of the bus stop at the valley station. Almost half of this sum was contributed by the state through LGVFG funds. Following the conversion of the valley station stop, the Garden and Civil Engineering Department (GuT) also carried out extensive modernization work for people with disabilities at the "Dorfstraße" stop in Günterstal. Various redesigns, which also benefit families with strollers or people with walking frames, have also been carried out at the mountain and valley stations. These also include "restrooms for all" that can also be used by people with multiple disabilities.
Panoramic terrace and treehouse playground offer added value – not just for families
The opening of the new barrier-free panoramic terrace and treehouse playground next to the mountain station took place during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to restrictions at the time, neither the 90th anniversary of the Schauinsland cable car nor the opening of the viewing platform and treehouses could be properly celebrated. "With this expansion, we have created real added value – and not just for families," reports Tobias Kunz. Freiburg's highest playground has several treehouses, a slide – and, like the entire terrace, offers a panoramic view over Freiburg, the Kaiserstuhl, and the Vosges Mountains. "What could be nicer than relaxing with a cappuccino from the kiosk on the panoramic terrace while the little ones experience their adventures in the treehouses," says Kunz, reporting "a great deal of positive" feedback from guests. "Before the young guests can let off steam in the treehouses, the facility is checked for safety every morning," explains Kunz.
Schauinslandbahn as an economic factor
Germany's longest circulating cable car is not only a popular attraction, but also a significant economic factor for the Freiburg region. According to a study by the German Economic Institute for Tourism (dwif eV), the cable car, with its approximately 350,000 passengers per year, generates significant economic benefits for Freiburg and the surrounding area. On average, each passenger spends €74.50 per day in the region – whether on restaurants, souvenirs, or local leisure activities. The economic multiplier effect is remarkable: According to the study, every euro earned through use of the cable car contributes an average of €7.50 to regional added value. This significantly exceeds the average for other German cable cars – which is €5.30 for every euro invested, according to the extensive survey commissioned by the Association of German Cable Cars. "The study clearly demonstrates: The Schauinsland Cable Car brings additional purchasing power to the region," explains VAG Board Member Stephan Bartosch.
New webcam on Schauinsland with high access numbers
Commercial Director Tobias Kunz is more than satisfied with the number of hits on the webcam at the mountain station. The new panoramic camera has been providing high-resolution live images from the mountain station since September 2023: "In 2024 as a whole, we had more than seven million hits on the webcam. And some of the recordings are still being shown on TV channels during the morning or late-night hours. This keeps the Schauinsland cable car in the public eye," says Kunz.
