Sustainability
Sustainable upwards travel
With their long service life and lack of CO2 emissions, the ropeways as designed by Bartholet Maschinenbau AG in Flums are already one of the most environmentally friendly means of transport out there. Another thing that distinguishes FlemXpress from conventional gondola lifts is that, according to our own calculations, it uses 50% less energy. As the gondolas are only in motion when guests are there to be transported, unnecessary energy-consuming empty trips can be avoided. With a conventional gondola lift, these account for up to 90% of trips. This not only reduces the operating and maintenance costs but also opens up new possibilities with regard to innovation and digitalisation. Switching from large cable cars to the FlemXpress therefore not only offers guests greater comfort but also allows us to do our bit for the environment. For Flims, this represents further evidence of our commitment to the ‘greenstyle’ philosophy. It also makes the area more competitive as a tourist destination.
In 2016, the aerial tramway to Fil de Cassons was dismantled. The existing chair lifts on the Flims – Foppa – Naraus line and the aerial tramway between Startgels and Grauberg were getting old, and it was no longer possible to modernise the Foppa-Naraus line due to its location (a red zone due to the risk of rockfall). Therefore, this project, with its plan for a new route to Fil de Cassons, allowed us to take advantage of more opportunities with regard to environmental protection.
The key goals of the FlemXpress were clear from the start:
- To give all guests, regardless of age, easier and disability-friendly access to the Tectonic Area Sardona World Heritage Site
- To restore access to the local Fil de Casson mountain in Flims without interfering too much with the surrounding nature
- To enable flexible tourism all year round with greater comfort
This is achieved using as few systems as possible. Even so, the gondola lift offers a high level of guest comfort with the lowest possible environmental impact. We keep one thing in mind at all times: nature comes first! The project is designed to protect the valuable Tectonic Arena Sardona World Heritage Site as well as possible, to optimally integrate the gondola lift into the surrounding landscapes and to provide attractive experiences to people of all ages. The existing buildings at the Flims and Foppa stations will continue to be used and will be reconstructed. The Startgels, Segnes, Nagens and Cassons stations will be integrated into the terrain as far as possible. We will make use of local resources and the regional economy to build the new stations. For example, a local concrete factory is planned in Segnes and the wood for the wooden façades will be harvested in a local forest.