Touted as the “most modern cable car concept in the world,” the 3S Penkenbahn gondola lift at Mayrhofen has been awarded an “Innovation Prize” for its superior twist on tri-cable technology. The gondola, which cost almost 50 million euros to build and replaced a 20-year-old lift at the same location, has been bringing delighted skiers and snowboarders from the centre of Mayrhofen up the Penken mountain since its inception in December 2015. Incredible views and renovated stations round off this truly special experience.
From the village, the 3S Penkenbahn gondola (the “3S” refers to the tri-cable technology) ascends the slopes of Action Mountain Penken and delivers skiers and snowboarders straight to the paradise of Mayrhofen’s ski slopes. The ride, lasting just over 8 minutes, offers stunning views of the surrounding Zillertal Alps, which passengers can share instantly with friends and family thanks to the on-board Wi-Fi. Each gondola has 24 seats plus additional standing room, for a total hourly downhill capacity of almost 4000 people; this virtually spells the end of wait times when travelling between the valley and the ski area. In case of technical problems, there is also a backup system, meaning no emergency gondola is needed.
If technical details aren’t your thing, you’ll still be impressed by what the Penkenbahn renovations have to offer in the way of comfort. Not just the support structure but also the mountain and valley stations were completely rebuilt and now offer separate entrances for ski schools, as well as spacious storage areas for ski and snowboard equipment . Ski rental, shops and service facilities are also available.
Inside of the 3S Penkenbahn
For its innovative technology which for the first time allows the cables of a tri-cable gondola to complete a curve right on the towers themselves, the Austrian-Swiss Doppelmayr company was recently awarded the biennial “Innovation Prize” from the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce and the Vorarlberg Region. Experts hailed the innovative technology, saying that the advancements were an important step in facilitating future use of cable cars in public transport, especially in cities.
View from the 3S Penkenbahn
Quick facts about the Penkenbahn |
|
|---|---|
| Mountain station: Penken | Length: 2924m |
| Base station altitude: 655m | Summit station altitude: 1790m |
| Elevation gain: 1135m | Speed: 7.5m/s |
| Travel time: 8:12 minutes | Gondola capacity: 24 people |
| Hourly capacity, uphill: 2880 people | Hourly capacity, downhill: 3840 people |
The 3S Penkenbahn in Mayrhofen
With more than 130km of pistes between the Ahorn and Penken mountains, Mayrhofen is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. It is home to the Harakiri, the steepest pisted run in Austria, as well as the Vans Penken Park, one of the best snowparks in the Alps. The Hintertux Glacier is also close by, offering year-round skiing. For more information, take a look at our overview of the Ski Zillertal 3000 area.
Touted as the “most modern cable car concept in the world,” the 3S Penkenbahn gondola lift at Mayrhofen has been awarded an “Innovation Prize” for its superior twist on tri-cable technology. The gondola, which cost almost 50 million euros to build and replaced a 20-year-old lift at the same location, has been bringing delighted skiers and snowboarders from the centre of Mayrhofen up the Penken mountain since its inception in December 2015. Incredible views and renovated stations round off this truly special experience.
From the village, the 3S Penkenbahn gondola (the “3S” refers to the tri-cable technology) ascends the slopes of Action Mountain Penken and delivers skiers and snowboarders straight to the paradise of Mayrhofen’s ski slopes. The ride, lasting just over 8 minutes, offers stunning views of the surrounding Zillertal Alps, which passengers can share instantly with friends and family thanks to the on-board Wi-Fi. Each gondola has 24 seats plus additional standing room, for a total hourly downhill capacity of almost 4000 people; this virtually spells the end of wait times when travelling between the valley and the ski area. In case of technical problems, there is also a backup system, meaning no emergency gondola is needed.
If technical details aren’t your thing, you’ll still be impressed by what the Penkenbahn renovations have to offer in the way of comfort. Not just the support structure but also the mountain and valley stations were completely rebuilt and now offer separate entrances for ski schools, as well as spacious storage areas for ski and snowboard equipment . Ski rental, shops and service facilities are also available.
Inside of the 3S Penkenbahn
For its innovative technology which for the first time allows the cables of a tri-cable gondola to complete a curve right on the towers themselves, the Austrian-Swiss Doppelmayr company was recently awarded the biennial “Innovation Prize” from the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce and the Vorarlberg Region. Experts hailed the innovative technology, saying that the advancements were an important step in facilitating future use of cable cars in public transport, especially in cities.
View from the 3S Penkenbahn
Quick facts about the Penkenbahn |
|
|---|---|
| Mountain station: Penken | Length: 2924m |
| Base station altitude: 655m | Summit station altitude: 1790m |
| Elevation gain: 1135m | Speed: 7.5m/s |
| Travel time: 8:12 minutes | Gondola capacity: 24 people |
| Hourly capacity, uphill: 2880 people | Hourly capacity, downhill: 3840 people |
The 3S Penkenbahn in Mayrhofen
With more than 130km of pistes between the Ahorn and Penken mountains, Mayrhofen is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. It is home to the Harakiri, the steepest pisted run in Austria, as well as the Vans Penken Park, one of the best snowparks in the Alps. The Hintertux Glacier is also close by, offering year-round skiing. For more information, take a look at our overview of the Ski Zillertal 3000 area.
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!
