Sentosa Line. Image from Flickr user darrenbloggie.
In June 2015 the island-nation of Singapore opened its second urban gondola, the Sentosa Line, just ahead of its 50th year anniversary celebrations. The original system, Singapore Cable Car, has now been rebranded as the Mount Faber Line. Collectively, the two systems are now part of the Singapore Sky Network, all of which were built by Austrian ropeway experts, Doppelmayr.
Unlike the first system which transported users from Mount Faber to the island resort of Sentosa, the new cableway provides riders with intra-island service via three stations: 1. Siloso Point; 2. Imbiah Lookout; and 3. Merlion.
The 8-passenger gondola offers users an exhilarating alternative to ordinary buses with aerials views from up to 80m over the island’s lush vegetation. The cable car is just one of the many infrastructure upgrades being made to enhance the island’s accessibility and connectivity.
Note the design of the cabins, in five bright colours. It feels appropriate for the leisurely and recreational atmosphere of Sentosa. Consider the contrast it makes stark contrast to the sleek metallic black, chrome-trimmed cabins on the Mount Faber Line, designed to offer riders a more elegant experience.
In the face of growing competition from a rapidly developing tourism market, the Sentosa Line is a welcome attraction to help the island improve transport options and bring further excitement to its annual visitor base of 20 million.
| Length (km) | 0.8 |
| Stations | 3 |
| Year Opened | 2015 |
| Capacity | 2,200 |
| Fare | $13.00 |
| Trip Time | ~4-6 minutes |
| Maximum speed (m/s) | 4.0 |