The new V-Cableway will bring you to your destination up to 47 minutes faster.
The new V-Cableway can get you to the Jungfraujoch- Top of Europe or to the ski slopes much faster.
As for example, the distance from the Terminal in Grindelwald to the Jungfraujoch, used to take you 1 h 28 minutes and now it will take you 45 minutes – 43 minutes faster than before!
Also, from Lauterbrunnen to Jungraujoch, it used to take you 1 h 47 min and now you will be able to do it 17 minutes faster at 1 h 45 min.
From Interlaken to Jungfraujoch is now 1 h 30 minutes, compared to 2 h 17 minutes that used to be the time to get there, now 47 minutes faster!
From Bern to Eigergletscher – some of the ski slopes, you can be in 1 h 49 minutes instead of before 2 h 36 minutes- 47 minutes faster.
It is the same case from Zurich to Eigergletscher – now can be done in 2 h 51 minutes instead of 3 h 38 minutes (47 minutes faster).
The V-Cableway project has great economic significance for the Jungfrau Region and above all for Grindelwald. A significantly positive impact on employment and value creation in Grindelwald and in the canton of Bern is expected in the construction phase as well as during the operational phase.
Grindelwald
Between 182 and 592 jobs can be secured or created in Grindelwald with the project. The resulting value added is between 30 and 67 million Swiss francs.
The municipality of Grindelwald receives additional tax revenues of CHF 1.7 to 2.5 million per year. Around CHF 1 million is allocated to the rest of the Jungfrau Region.
Canton of Bern
In the canton of Bern, between 342 and 776 new jobs will be created, and there will be 53 to 105 million Swiss francs of added value generated.
The project generates total annual tax revenues of 11 to 14.6 million Swiss francs.
Value added during the construction phase
The project is generating a large number of contracts, especially for the regional construction industry. By the end of 2018, orders totalling CHF 100.5 million were already granted to companies from the Bernese Oberland. This corresponds to 95% of the order value at the end of 2018 (excluding Garaventa cable cars).
By the end of 2018, a total of 36 companies/consortia received orders for the realisation of the V-Project. 26 of these were from the Bernese Oberland. At the end of the year, a total of 220 workers (planners & construction workers) were working on the project.
The benefits of this works are:
- State of the art aerial gondolas Eiger Express and GGM
- 47-minute reduction in journey time
- Direct connection to public transport
- Best terminal in the Alps with shops, food and ski depots
- More comfort due to capacity increase and elimination of standing room
- Increase in recognition and location attractiveness
- Leading international position as top year-round destination
The direct connection of the V-Cableway to public transport and the increase in capacity of the new rolling stock on the Bernese Oberland Railway (valley railway on the feeder line from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald) increase the attractiveness of the railway and ensure a shift in traffic from road to rail.
With the realisation of the V-Cableway project, in particular with the commissioning of the “Eiger Express” tricable gondola, central junctions will be de-congested and long-term traffic and parking problems will be solved. This is ensured by a new parking garage and a constantly updated parking guidance system with real-time information. A customer information system on all railways enables targeted visitor guidance.
The new Grindelwald Terminal stop massively increases the public transport passenger capacity. With the new cable cars and the increased capacity, queuing in the valley for transport to the ski resort will be a thing of the past. A single seat reservation guarantees the Jungfraujoch guests their seat when transferring to the Jungfrau Railway.
Holiday guests in Grindelwald reach the Eiger Glacier station and the ski slopes in just 15 minutes. Thanks to the rapid return transport by the tricable gondola to the mountain, the beautiful valley slopes can be enjoyed repeatedly. The additional shuttle to the First Railway directly from the terminal makes changing ski resorts a quick and easy process.
The V-Cableway project guarantees facilities of the latest standards with a high level of guest comfort. These include new rolling stock on the Bernese Oberland Railway, the Grindelwald Terminal with shopping, food and ski depots, as well as the tricable gondola Eiger Express (26 seats) and the 10-passenger aerial gondola on the Männlichen. There is also a car park with 1,000 spaces. Separate group accesses reduce congestion.
A tailor-made operational adjustment of the Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB), Wengernalp Railway (WAB) and Jungfrau Railway (JB) to suit the demands and the latest technology is guaranteed.
The V-Cableway ensures the competitiveness of the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and thus the future of a beacon of tourism for the Jungfrau Region and all of Switzerland. Prospects are created for generations to come in the Jungfrau Region.
Thanks to the new trains, Grindelwald will become significantly more attractive as a destination.
The V-Cableway strengthens the competitiveness of the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and Grindelwald as a winter and summer destination. The year-round visitor volume increases the business opportunities in Grindelwald.
The new terminal offers business spaces with direct access to the flow of customers. Around 50 jobs will be created with the shops there.
The project increases guest attendance for day and holiday guests. Catering providers, businesses and the hotel industry will also benefit from this.
With the creation of additional jobs, Grindelwald will be more attractive as a place of residence.
More attractive thanks to reduced traffic congestion
The V-Cableway will bring a reduction in individual motorized traffic, resulting in less traffic on the road. The significantly improved access to public transport via the new BOB “Grindelwald Terminal” station disproportionately increases the appeal of the railway. The shift to rail is the path of the future.
The shorter travel times, the direct public transport connection, the new facilities, the new rolling stock and the terminal building with shops provide guests with more quality and comfort. The region thus remains competitive internationally in future.
Day guests benefit from a significantly shorter journey to the ski area and the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. The 47 minutes gained bring the ski slopes much closer to Swiss cities.
There is a parking garage with around 1,000 parking spaces with direct access to the terminal for those not travelling by public transport
Thanks to the reduced travel time to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, international sightseeing tourists have plenty of time to visit another Experience Mountain such as First – Top of Adventure or to take part in winter sports after the Jungfraujoch.
At the Grindelwald railway station, guests can choose between boarding the WAB, the longest continuous cogwheel railway in the world, with attractive seats. Alternatively, they can travel via the BOB in just a few minutes to the Terminal Grindelwald stop, where they can directly board the new cable cars. The comfort of the ascent and descent has improved for the guests thanks to the decongestion of customer flows.
If you want to take a break in the terminal, you can enjoy shopping in branded stores or buy dinner from a retailer. Of course, rental of winter sports equipment and clothing is also on site.
Summer
The popular hiking routes between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg or below the Eiger North Face are made much easier and faster with the railways. The starting point of the Eiger Trail can be reached in 15 minutes using the new Eiger Express tricable gondola without having to change trains.
Kleine Scheidegg is relieved of people travelling to the Jungfraujoch and is therefore more attractive for excursion guests and hikers. It becomes the meeting place of the Alps.
Winter
From Grindelwald Terminal, the Eiger Glacier station and the ski slopes can be reached in just 15 minutes. Thanks to the rapid return transport by the tricable gondola to the mountain, the attractive valley runs can be used multiple times. The ski shuttle from the Grindelwald Terminal to the First Railway provides a direct bus connection between the two ski areas, making Grindelwald much more attractive as a ski holiday destination.
Transport to the Kleine Scheidegg ski resort and to the Jungfraujoch can be guaranteed even in difficult weather conditions. This enables certain weather-related service interruptions to be alleviated with the WAB. The holiday guest is able to complete the scheduled ski day/excursion safely.
The tricable gondola system combines all the advantages of the aerial gondola and the funicular. Due to the double carrier cable, it can be run across great lengths with a small number of support towers while still being very stable in the wind. For the Eiger Express, only seven support towers have to be built over the entire length of 6,483 metres. This preserves the landscape and no forest paths are required.
The tricable technology is the only ropeway system that harmoniously blends the desired transport needs with the demand for minimal intervention in nature. Although it is much more expensive to buy than an aerial tramway, the advantages in terms of nature and operation justify these higher costs.
Construction partners
The entire region profits from the 470 million V-Cableway project. Since the start of construction, orders totalling CHF 100.5 million have already been granted to companies from the Bernese Oberland (as of end of 2018). This corresponds to 95% of the order value at the end of 2018 (excluding Garaventa cable cars).
So far, a total of 30 companies/working groups have been covered, 21 of which come from the region. Currently, about 250 external workers (planners and construction workers) are involved in the realisation of the once-in-a-generation project.
More information: V-Bahn Jungfrau
You can go and visit the construction site – information can be found here.
We’ve written when the Jungfrau V-bahn railway project got a green light overcoming opposition.
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Featured Image: Jungfraujoch- Top of Europe. The new V-Cableway will bring you to your destination up to 47 minutes faster.
