Cable car on the Frankfurter Ring in Munich will not be built: too expensive, not enough use - other routes conceivable

Created: 2022-02-16, 2:18 p.m

By: Sascha Karowski

This is how the route for a cable car on the Frankfurter Ring could have run.

© City of Munich

The cable car project on the Frankfurter Ring has died.

A feasibility study commissioned by the city has shown that the gondola does not pay off.

However, the route from Studentenstadt to Unterföhring is to be examined.

Munich - The end of gondolas: The feasibility study for the cable car on the Frankfurter Ring has shown that it is technically feasible and can be integrated both in terms of urban planning and natural space.

However, the gondola hardly brings any new passengers compared to the alternatives tram and express bus that were examined.

The costs for this are extremely high at an estimated 433 million euros.

(Our Munich newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from the Isar metropolis. Register here.)

Frankfurter Ring Munich cable car: High costs, comparatively little benefit

High costs and a comparatively low benefit are also forecast for a realization via the Isar to Unterföhring.

Nevertheless, a ropeway shows its strengths when crossing an obstacle.

The team of experts therefore recommends investigating a connection between the student town and Unterföhring in more detail.

"It's a shame that the route chosen - contrary to the original assessment of the administration - would mean no significant transport benefit, but comparatively high costs," said Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) on Wednesday.

Therefore, he will ask the administration to think about whether there are routes in the city area or in connection with the region that bring traffic benefits at reasonable costs.

"The city council will also decide on the section to Unterföhring in this context."

SPD traffic expert Nikolaus Gradl: “Transport more passengers by tram and bus”

The idea of ​​the cable car has its charm, says SPD traffic expert Nikolaus Gradl.

But: “A lot more passengers could be transported there with a tram or an express bus every two minutes.

We are also skeptical about a cable car route from the student town via the Isar to Unterföhring: We are calling for a comparison of different crossing options before the city council decides.”

Green City Councilor Gudrun Lux said on Wednesday: "A cable car is a nice idea.

But if it's not a very good solution, and it's also not the best solution, like on the Frankfurter Ring, then a better project will be tackled there in the interests of the traffic turnaround."

Urban cable cars could show their strengths especially where obstacles have to be crossed, says Bavaria's Transport Minister Kerstin Schreyer (CSU).

"We would be pleased if the state capital would continue to pursue the plans for a route across the Isar to Unterföhring."

Frankfurter Ring cable car: route could have been 4.5 kilometers long

The route on the Frankfurter Ring should have run over 4.5 kilometers between the Studentenstadt underground station, the Schwabing Nord tram stop, the Frankfurter Ring underground station and the Oberwiesenfeld underground station.

The study also examined other routes – as an extension axis.

The almost eleven kilometer long route along the Frankfurter Ring between the Fasanerie and Unterföhring S-Bahn stations has the greatest passenger potential for the cable car with 23,000 passengers per day.

A so-called three-rope cable car would have 84 cabins, each with space for 20 people.

The cabins would enter the central stops at a distance of 45 seconds (260 meters) and stay there for 33 seconds.

The travel time of a cabin for the nine-stop route would be 29.9 minutes.

Frankfurter Ring cable car: An express bus line would only cost 19 million euros

However, the transport benefit of the cable car is small compared to an alternative express bus, for example.

Only 3000 more passengers could be transported per day.

On the other hand, there are investment costs of 433 million euros for the cable car.

An express bus line would cost 19 million euros.

"To solve the traffic problems in the north of Munich, we will develop alternative solutions, especially for public transport," said mobility officer Georg Dunkel.

The section from the Studentenstadt underground station to the Unterföhring S-Bahn station across the Isar scores slightly better in the evaluation.

Three stations would have to be set up over a distance of 3.7 kilometers, the journey time would be ten minutes.

The experts assume that this route will also be of use to tourists.

However, costs of around 160 million euros are also estimated here, with a transport potential of 2900 passengers per day.