The positive response to the second edition of Cable Car World at Messe Essen makes it clear that more and more local authorities see urban cable cars as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional infrastructure in local public transport. From June 4 to 5, 2024, the congress trade fair was able to expand its status as an innovative specialist event for mobility solutions at the plus-one level and make a significant contribution to networking decision-makers and driving urban cable car projects forward. Over 600 trade fair and congress participants from 21 countries - including delegations from Brazil and Sierra Leone as well as the C40 Cities network and the International Organization for the Ropeway Industry OITAF - came to find out about technologies, products and services from 51 exhibitors and 17 partners from ten countries. Attractions included the Mobility Lab with a Science Wall and City Lab, a cable car model and the Cable Car Congress.
The demand for information at Cable Car World 2024 was high. Both the topic of ‘urban cable cars’ itself and specific aspects such as funding scenarios and legal framework conditions met with great interest among the trade visitors. “Cable Car World 2024 has established a new pillar. Since the last trade fair, urban cable cars have experienced an enormous boost. What is already established practice in transport planning in other parts of the world is gaining more and more momentum in Germany and Europe. Many visitors came back to concretise their plans,” summarises Dominik Berndt, Managing Director of Cable Car World GmbH and partner of the congress trade fair. “The topic has also become an integral part of cable car manufacturers’ product development. We are delighted that the industry has accepted Cable Car World as a new presentation platform and wants to collaborate with Messe Essen to expand it into an international industry meeting point,” adds Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen GmbH.
The design of the cabins, for example, has been adapted to the needs of public transport. One of the three manufacturers on the market brought a cable car gondola to Essen, which will set off on its maiden voyage in Paris in 2025 on a route of 4.5 kilometres. Another market leader presented a cabin that is already successfully in operation in Mexico City and transports passengers over a distance of around eleven kilometres.
Learning from other cities around the world
Practical examples were one of the focal points of the integrated Cable Car Congress. Guests included the operator of the world's largest public transport cable car network, ‘Mi Teleférico’, who reported on his experiences in La Paz, Bolivia. Sierra Leone had travelled to Cable Car World with an entire delegation. In the capital Freetown, a cable car would above all mean economic and social progress thanks to the newly gained mobility, Freetown's Lord Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE emphasised in her presentation.
Interactive trade fair concept was well received
Cable Car World 2024 used various formats to familiarise visitors with the topic. The Mobility Lab powered by Bartholet & Leitner was the centrepiece of the trade fair. The communication area was frequently used for discussions with experts from consulting and planning or in-depth workshops. It was also the starting point for guided tours. Special attention was paid to the City Lab, which was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Bogotá, Bonn, Duisburg, Freetown, Herne, Munich, Oberhausen, Offenbach, Toulouse and the Rhine-Neckar Transport Association presented their current cable car projects. For example, a connection across the Rhine in Bonn, Germany is currently being planned. The project fulfils the criteria for public funding and therefore has the best chances of being implemented. Herne is also focussing on an urban cable car. In the city in the German Ruhr region, a new technology district is to be connected to the railway station in Wanne-Eickel.
The Science Wall showcased the current state of research with the participation of TU Wien, TH Ingolstadt, Universidad de los Andes, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, OTH Regensburg, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and the Mobility Department of the City of Munich.
Save the date!
Anyone interested can already make a note of the new date in their calendars: The next Cable Car World and the integrated Cable Car Congress will take place on June 9 and 10, 2026 at Messe Essen.
Information at: www.cablecarworld.de
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