Three Heavy Lift Trucks Haul 145 Tonnes of Cable for New Säntis Cable Car in Pre Dawn Alpine Run

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Fatzer AG delivered the first major shipment of suspension and traction cables for the new Säntis cable car yesterday, moving 145 tonnes of steel rope from Romanshorn to Schwägalp in a tightly coordinated heavy transport operation that began before dawn.

The convoy departed Fatzer AG‘s Romanshorn facility at 04:55, according to a company statement. Three articulated lorries carried two suspension cable drums and one traction cable drum up to the Schwägalp base station, with route planning and execution managed by Wipfli AG and escort support provided by two vehicles from EMIL EGGER AG. The shipment marks a critical milestone in the construction of the replacement cable car system at one of Switzerland’s most visited mountain peaks.

Each rope drum represented a significant heavy lift challenge. The two suspension cable drums weighed 55 tonnes apiece, while the traction cable drum came in at 36 tonnes. Combined, the three drums totalled 146 tonnes of cargo, a load that demanded specialised trailers, precise weight distribution, and careful route selection through mountainous terrain.

Upon arrival at Schwägalp, crews unloaded the drums onto prepared gravel areas. The cables now await splicing, the process of joining rope segments to create continuous runs capable of supporting cable car operations. Splicing for cables of this diameter and tension rating requires specialised equipment and skilled rigging teams, and typically takes place under controlled conditions to ensure safety and performance standards.

The project is not pausing after this initial delivery. Fatzer AG has already scheduled the next major rope transport for mid August. That shipment will add another 100 tonnes of suspension cables to the Schwägalp site, bringing the total delivered rope weight to roughly 246 tonnes before installation work begins in earnest.

The Säntis cable car replacement represents a substantial breakbulk and project cargo undertaking. Alpine cable car projects of this scale require close coordination between rope manufacturers, heavy haulage specialists, and mountain construction teams. The narrow windows for transport, dictated by weather, road conditions, and tourist traffic, add complexity to what is already a demanding logistics chain.

For the project cargo sector, the Säntis delivery underscores the continued demand for specialised heavy transport in European alpine regions. Switzerland’s cable car infrastructure is ageing, and several major systems are due for replacement or overhaul in the coming decade. Each project generates freight demand for oversized components, including steel ropes, tower sections, and drive machinery, often moved under tight schedules to minimise disruption to seasonal tourism.

The involvement of Wipfli AG as transport coordinator and EMIL EGGER AG as escort provider highlights the subcontracting structure typical of alpine heavy lift moves. Neither the total contract value nor the specific transport rates were disclosed.