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| Siemens technology for new Galzigbahn ropeway in Austria The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) Group has received an order from Arlberger Bergbahnen AG to equip the new Galzigbahn ropeway in St. Anton, Austria, with drive and automation systems. The Funitel-type circulating haul rope system will have a considerably increased transport capacity and, as the first of its kind, will enable passengers to board without having to climb any steps. The new ropeway is to start operating at the beginning of the 2006/2007 winter season. In St. Anton on the Arlberg, Arlberger Bergbahnen AG operates 34 ropeways and lifts. On the whole of the Arlberg, people who have come to enjoy the winter sports are able to use 86 ropeways, 276 km of ski runs and 174 km of deep-snow ski runs. The gateway to the skiing area is the Galzigbahn ropeway which started operating in 1937 and connects the town to the local "Galzig" mountain. The new Funitel-type ropeway will have 28 cabins, each with a capacity of 24 people, and will complete the 770 meters in height difference in around nine minutes. It will therefore be able to transport 2200 people per hour. This corresponds to three times the present transport capacity and will greatly reduce the waiting times. The Feldherrenhügel T-bar lift will be dismantled without replacement when the new Galzigbahn ropeway is built and, as a result, there will be more skiing space available. Another advantage is the new boarding concept: in the valley station, the individual cabins will be decoupled from the haul ropes and, by means of big Ferris-wheel-like transport wheels, will be lowered to the boarding level, which is even with the ground. As a result, the passengers will no longer have to climb any steps. After boarding has been completed, a second "Ferris" wheel will take the cabins back to the line level. The drive equipment of the Galzigbahn ropeway will be accommodated in the top station. Siemens is supplying four direct-current machines for the equipment, each machine having an output of 500 kilowatts and being supplied via four 1600-ampere converters. The entire ropeway as well as the big wheels will be controlled with fail-safe programmable controllers of the Simatic S7 series. Siemens is also responsible for engineering, installation and commissioning. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |