Ahead of its commercial opening on Friday, La Paz/El Alto’s newest urban gondola, the Orange Line (Spanish: Línea Naranja), was inspected by the Bolivian president yesterday. Built at a cost of $66 million, the 2.6km system will operate at a capacity of 3,000 pphpd with 127 cabins and 26 towers.
Riders will be able to access four new stations — Central (Taypi Uta), Armentia (Riosinho Pampa), Periférica (Apachita) and Villaroeal (Héroes de la Revolución) — and travel the length of the system in just 9.5 minutes.
Once the upcoming White Line (Spanish: Línea Blanca) is opened in the near future, it will be possible to conveniently transfer between three different urban gondola lines.
The Doppelmayr-built system features state-of-the-art ropeway technology where cabins are designed with surveillance cameras, free wifi, lighting, communication systems and solar panels.
Journalists and local leaders/tastemakers, such as Gato Chef, also joined the President in the pre-celebrations yesterday before the line officially opens on Friday. Until then, check out some of the photos and videos below.