Planai and Riesneralm investing heavily

Construction of the new Planaibahn is the biggest investment in the corporate history of the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen. The Riesneralm will be putting € 5 million into an innovative snowmaking and power generation project.

The third generation of the Planaibahn

The first gondola lift from Schladming up to the Planai was built in 1972. This quad lift was replaced in 1985 by a high-performance six-passenger gondola. Now, the lift has once again reached its limits in terms of capacity. Which is why the biggest mountain-lift and outdoor-recreation company in Styria decided to make a major investment: Since 8 April, construction has been underway on a new, high-performance 10-passenger cabin lift. Progress is right on track, with the lift scheduled to be completed and go into operation at the beginning of December 2019. After it was dismantled, the old six-gondola was shipped off to Argentina. There, it is being rebuilt in the Las Leñas ski area where it will continue being used.

Extraordinary features, state-of-the-art technology 

Passengers on the new Planai lift can look forward to barrier-free boarding and exiting, larger cabins with an ultramodern design and optimized ticketing areas. Even better: The new Omega-V gondolas manufactured by Swiss lift maker CWA provide for the greatest possible comfort. The cabins consist mainly of glass along with individual wood-and-leather seats. Throughout the year, the lifts will also allow for transportation of different winter sports gear (skis, snowboards) as well as summer recreational equipment including mountain bikes.

Facts about the new Planaibahn:

• Monocable gondola lift | 10-passenger cabins, 153 cabins total| Length: 3.6 km in two sections 

• “D-Line” design | Manufacturer: Doppelmayr

• Capacity: 3800 passengers per hour | Speed: 6 m/s

Riesneralm combines snowmaking and power generation 

The Riesneralm in Donnersbachwald is investing € 5 million in an innovative snowmaking project. Instead of drawing water from the reservoir, it will be utilizing water from a hydroelectric plant. The snowmaking infrastructure will be connected directly to the piping system of a hydropower station, allowing for simultaneous production of snow and electricity. Using water from the Donnersbach, it will be possible to generate three times as much power as needed for snowmaking and operation of the entire ski area. This will make the Riesneralm ski area completely energy-independent.