Illustration of Pomagalski’s cable car for La Defense. Image via defense-92.fr.
A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of urban gondolas, cable cars and cable propelled transit:
- Reports indicate that Mexico’s first urban cable car, the Teleférico de Ecatepec, is now 33% complete. The CPT line will be connected to Lines 2, 3 and 4 of the Mexibús and will help reduce travel times by nearly half an hour. It’s estimated that once it becomes operational by December 2015, it will benefit upwards of 300,000 residents.
- Many villagers in rural areas of China still rely on rudimentary and seemingly death-defying ropeways. A system known locally as the “iron basket,” located near the city of Enshi in Hubei province, was once again making headlines for its ingenuity. The primary form of transport for nearly 200 villagers for the past 16 years, this ropeway is 1km long and — brace yourselves — reportedly travels at a staggering 480 metres above the valley floor!
- In Algeria, the local government has embarked on a joint venture with French ropeway manufacturer POMA. This partnership will provide gondola expertise to a country that already has many urban cable cars in operation and hints at future CPT development.
- Last week, reports suggested that a cable car was once again being considered for the Parisian business district of La Defense. Apparently, POMA founder Jean Pomagalski had already envisioned urban gondola systems in this district as early the 1960s!