STANSERHORN CABRIO
Open Top Aerial Cable Car at Lake Lucerne
In 1893 a funicular railway opened to carry tourists to the summit of the Stanserhorn peak beside Lake Lucerne and the mountaintop hotel of Staserhorn Kulm, a popular attraction on Swiss Alps peaks. In the 1970s an airplane had the misfortune to crash into the hotel and it closed. The funicular from the lakeside village of Stans still took visitors on the slow trundling ride to a a restaurant and view point, but then the upper section of the route was replaced by an aerial cable tram. Some of the old funicular track path, once holding the record for the world’s longest, can still be seen below on the mountainside, made possible to see, because riding the revolutionary new Stanserhorn CabriO open top platform cable car of the Stanserbahn.
At not too distant, Mt Titlus, the rotating cable car was the new thing, but the design of the Stanserhorn cable car takes the riding to mountain tops a step further by providing a double deck cab with the upper deck outside in the open air. The word cabrio essentially mean “convertible” like an open top sports car, through the upper deck of the Stanserhorn CabriO, is permanently open to the sky and stunning scenery. Rather than dangling from a support cable above like more common aerial trams, the cables of the Stanserhorn run along either side of the car. At the docking station, passengers enter the lower glass enclosed car, then climb a spiral stair to upper deck. The deck is surrounded by see-through glass enclosed cab sides and metal rails about chest high so it doesn’t feel at all precarious, with 360 degree views. At the arrival station, upper deck passengers can disembark from the top or down the stairs. The deck has a stated capacity of 30, but can be a bit cramped at that and at popular times can fill up pretty quickly. The lower deck can hold about 60 passengers.
The Lake Lucerne landscape stretches out into the distance from the cable car as the fresh air breeze blows with the rising car. The peak of Stanserhorn is 6,670 and lower in altitude than either Mt Pilatus or Mt Titlis and the scenery is of verdant Alpine Valleys and the lake rather than ice and snow. Trip on the Stanserhorn still begins with the 120 year old time funicular from the Stans station, trundling in a straight line up the gentle slopes through green meadows to the Kalti Station at about 2,000 feet, where passengers transfer to the Cabrio cable car ride, which takes about 6 minutes to reach the mountain summit station. The whole trip takes about 24 minutes.
At the top of the Stanserhorn activities are pretty much taking in the views. Enjoy a meal in the the “Ronderama” revolving restaurant or outdoor patio. Walk out on the viewing platform suspended on stilts for unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains. Hiking trails lead up the mountain top for wildlife viewing, especially the local Marmots, about a 30 minute walk around the mountain summit. A hiking trail from Stans to the Stanserhorn takes about four hours. The Stanserhorn Cabrio and Funicular (Stanserhorn Drahtseilbahn) can be taken in one direction and with a hike in the other, whether up or down hill is a matter of choice. Paragliders launch from the RinderAlp a 20 minute walk from the restaurant and glider planes from the Stans airfield can often be seen soaring on the updrafts near the mountain.
Visiting the Stanserhorn Cabrio Aerial Cable
The Stanserhorn Funicular and Cable is a five minute walk through town from the Stans Rail Station, follow the signs. Stans is about 20 minutes by train from Lucerne main station, either by the local train or Regional train in the direction of Englelberg. By lake cruise boat from Lucerne, depart at the Stanstad dock and then train to Stans. By car take the A2 in the direction of Gotthard and exit at Stans-Nord. First departures up begin at 8:15 am and the last down departs at 5:15. From May to November for evening views, on Friday and Saturday the last trip up is 10pm. Ticket prices from the Stans to Stanserhorn for 2014 are 37 CHF one way and 74 CHF round trip. With the Swiss Pass or Half Fare card, 18.50 CHF and 33 CHF. The Swiss Family Card or Swiss Grand Parents Cards are accepted, children from 6 to 16 years accompanied by at least one parent get a 75% discount. Candle Light Dinner packages on Fridays and Saturdays including the tram ride and 4-course meals are 99 CHF per person. © Bargain
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SEE
ALSO:
CRUISING
LAKE LUCERNE - SCENIC STEAMER
HOTEL PILATUS KULM - MT PILATUS
LUCERNE CHAPEL BRIDGE & WATER TOWER
WILHELM TELL EXPRESS LAKE AND TRAIN
DIAVOLEZZA CABLE CAR AND BERGHAUS
