Ski Arlberg is poised to become the biggest linked ski area in Austria with the upcoming inauguration of the Flexenbahn gondola, which will link the ski areas of St. Anton am Arlberg and Lech-Oberlech-Zürs. The gondola is expected to be ready for the 2016-17 ski season. Apart from the Flexenbahn, Ski Arlberg will also run three other new lifts, for a total of 87 lifts and 305km of pistes. The project will cost the ski area 45 million euros in total.
Starting next winter, it will no longer be necessary to take the ski bus between Stuben and Zürs am Arlberg . The Flexenbahn will make the trip across the Arlberg in just 6 minutes. The new gondola has 47 cabins that fit 10 people each, for an hourly capacity of 2400 skiers and snowboarders. The lift will travel a distance of 1.8km, with an altitude difference of 562 metres. From the cabins, passengers will have lovely views of the Kloster valley and the Arlbergpass towards St. Christoph.
As if the Flexenbahn weren't enough, Ski Arlberg is also investing in three other lifts. The valley station of the Flexenbahn will be the starting point of the new Albonabahn II. It will no longer be necessary to ride the outdated chairlift to reach the pistes of the Stuben. On the Zürs side the Trittkopfbahn I and II will be renovated. With these new lifts, both 10-person gondolas, lift queues should be a thing of the past.
The new lift also makes it possible to inaugurate a new ski tour. The Run of Fame covers no less than 65km, with 18000m of altitude gained and lost. The route leads through the entire ski area, from Warth to Lech am Arlberg and Zürs, then via the Flexenbahn to St. Christoph and St. Anton am Arlberg.
Facts & Figures: New Flexenbahn gondola |
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|---|---|
| Top station: Trittkopf | Length: 1800m |
| Altitude top station: 2227m | Altitude gain: 562m |
| Speed: 5m/s | Duration: 6 min |
| Capacity: 10 ppl | Overall capacity: 2400 ppl/hr |
| Number of cabins: N/A | Location: Stuben/Alpe Rauz |
The arrival of the Flexenbahn is also good news for the environment. Currently, the ski bus makes the trek over the Flexenpass 120 times. Starting from next winter, this will no longer be necessary. As an added bonus, Zürs am Arlberg and Lech am Arlberg will also have less traffic from day trippers, as it will now be possible to come on skis instead of by car. The new lift won't need any new pistes, so it won't be necessary to clear more natural habitat.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
