View of the Cableway approaching Bor, Russia. Image by Wiki user Алексей Белобородов.
Nizhny Novgorod is a Russian city that is situated at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers and is the administrative center of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Volga Federal District. Since its founding in 1221, the city has been known as a vital economic and trading center within the Volga region, which led to the saying of ‘St. Petersburg is Russia’s head; Moscow its heart; and, Nizhny Novgorod its wallet’.
Today, Nizhny is the fifth largest city in Russia and is frequently referred to as the country’s third capital. However, the city is characterized as a very calm and laid-back city — one where the citizens like to wake up late and go to bed early.
Nizhny Novgorod Cableway crossing the Volga river. Image by Flickr user Evgeny Gorodetsky.
Getting around Nizhny is fairly easy thanks to the city’s network of buses, trams, 2-line metro system, and of course, the cable car. The Nizhny Novgorod Cableway (NNC), which is integrated into the public transportation network, is a 3.6-kilometer MDG system built by POMA that transports passengers from the downtown center of Nizhny to the outlying municipality of Bor.
The cable car has reduced a circuitous 27km journey over highways and roads down to a direct and comfortable 3.6km ride across the Volga River. Thanks to the gondola, travel times have been cut from 90 minutes to just 13 minutes.
One of the two 82m tall towers. Image by Flickr user Vladislav Maslenov.
The system was initially designed to transport commuters but quickly turned into a popular ride for visitors, boosting local tourism. At only 80 rubles ($1.50 USD), the cable car is a very cost-effective transport solution for all travellers, offering a unique bird’s eye view of the surrounding landscape.
The NNC system carries about 2 million passengers per year and is notable for its 861m long span between two 82m tall towers and the 3.6km long span between the two stations. Both are very impressive accomplishments and show the impressive technological growth and innovation within the ropeway industry.
| Year opened | 2012 |
| Length (km) | 3.6 |
| Stations | 2 |
| Capacity (pphpd) | 1000 |
| Speed (m/s) | 5.0 |
| Trip time (minutes) | 13 |
| Fare (rubles) | 80 ($1.50 USD) |