History of Bergbahnen Flumserberg
The history of cable cars and lifts on the Flumserberg began in 1945, when the first ski lift, a strap lift, was built on Flumserberg. What started small is now the largest cable car company in Eastern Switzerland with a consolidated annual income of around CHF 32.5 million. In 2022, Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG and Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG merged to form Bergbahnen Flumserberg AG. Today, Bergbahnen Flumserberg AG operates 17 lift and cable car facilities, 65 km of ski runs, a sledging run as well as a variety of other winter activities. In summer, guests can enjoy six cable car facilities as well as 13 km of BikerTrails, a climbing tower, a toboggan run, up to 150 kilometres of hiking trails and additional summer highlights. The Bergbahn Group also comprises six culinary establishments and a sports shop with four branches.
In a pioneering achievement, beginning in 1945, Maschgenkamm was made accessible for skiing in just five years through three passenger transport systems.
Ski lifts and chair lifts with a total length of 5000 m and a combined height difference of over 1000 m made Flumserberg one of the largest ski resorts in Switzerland.
Two months after the end of the Second World War in May 1945, construction began on the first ski lift at Flumserberg.
Location: Tannenboden - Chrüz
Type of lift: 2-person strap lift
Manufacturer: Oehler & Co
Length: 1400 m
Height difference: 235 m
Transport capacity: 800 people per hour
Specifics:
- The ski lift route had two distinct curves
- At full capacity, 13 employees worked in various positions
1949: Foundation of the ordinary partnership "Ski- und Sessellift-Unternehmen Tannenheim-Prodalp-Prodkamm".
Location: Bergheim - Tannenboden
Type of lift: T-bar ski lift
Manufacturer: Gerhard Müller AG
Length: 1500 m
Height difference: 400 m
Transport capacity: 600 people per hour
Due to a delay in the granting of the concession, the facility was not put into operation by Christmas 1950, but only in February 1951.
Location: Chrüz - Maschgenkamm
Type of lift: Detachable 2-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: Gerhard Müller AG
Length: 2000 m
Height difference: 414 m
Transport capacity: 400 people per hour
After the planning of the Tannenheim - Prodalp section was completed and the detailed cost estimate was available, it became apparent that the capital subscribed by the initiators so far was not sufficient for the realisation.
With the increase in shareholders, the financing of the Tannenheim - Prodalp ski and chair lift was assured and construction of the facility could begin.
Location: Tannenheim - Prodalp
Type of lift: Ski and chair lift
Manufacturer: Sameli-Huber
Length: 1500 m
Height difference: 350 m
Transport capacity in winter: 355 people per hour
Transport capacity in summer: 120 people per hour
In 1979, the lift was converted and only used as a ski lift in winter. This increased the transport capacity to 1200 people per hour.
The Panoramarestaurant Maschgenkamm has a panoramic view of the Churfirsten mountain range, Lake Walen and towards Spitzmeilen.
1965: Conversion of the mountain restaurant.
1988: Major refurbishment and subsequent reopening as Panoramarestaurant Maschgenkamm.
2014: The Panüöl extension and the construction of the Panüöl chairlift led to an enlargement of the sun terrace of the Panoramarestaurant Maschgenkamm.
TODAY:
In winter, the panorama restaurant is a self-service restaurant, while in summer guests are served.
In 1945, the ski and chair lift replaced the strap lift.
Location: Tannenboden - Chrüz
Type of lift: Ski and chair lift
Manufacturer: W. Städeli
Length: 1400 m
Height difference: 235 m
Transport capacity in winter: 900 people per hour
Transport capacity in summer: 180 people per hour
An innovation in cable car technology:
The use of sheave assemblies and the use of a stepless drive motor was considered, which enabled a shock-free start-up.
Location: Prodalp - Prodkamm
Type of lift: Ski and chair lift
Manufacturer: Oehler & Co
Length: 1730 m
Height difference: 369 m
Transport capacity in winter: 800 people per hour
Transport capacity in summer: 450 people per hour
1978: The lift was converted and only used as a ski lift in winter. This increased the transport capacity to 1200 people per hour.
The objective of Luftseilbahn Unterterzen-Tannenbodenalp AG was to connect Unterterzen with the SBB terminal and the villages of Oberterzen and Tannenboden all year round by means of an aerial tramway. It also served as a link to the ski lifts and chairlifts at Flumserberg.
In November 1964, the aerial tramway was recognised as a means of public transport.
Location: Unterterzen - Oberterzen
Type of lift: Aerial tramway
Manufacturer: Metallwerke Buchs AG
Length: 1190 m
Height difference: 233 m
Transport capacity: 360 people per hour
Location: Oberterzen - Tannenboden
Type of lift: Aerial tramway
Manufacturer: Metallwerke Buchs AG
Length: 2230 m
Height difference: 720 m
Transport capacity: 440 people per hour
In the 1950s, Hans Wildhaber AG put the Mittenwald Ski Lift into operation with a transport capacity of 350 people per hour.
For the 1968 winter season, the lift was upgraded and the transport capacity increased to 580 people per hour.
In 1988, Mittenwald Ski Lift was replaced by Bartholet Seilbahnen AG. The length of the lift is 620 m and it transports 1000 people per hour.
At the end of the 1950s, the ski school and private individuals built the first ski lift, the Tannenboden Lift. The transit rights were no longer renewed by the local municipality of Flums - Grossberg and then transferred to Bürger AG.
In the early 1970s, Skilifte Madils AG built the following facilities:
- two T-bar lifts
- Feldherrenhügel Ski Lift
- Madilsbrückli – Feldherrenhügel connecting lift
These investments made it possible to transport more than 5,000 people per hour in winter.
"Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" took over Skilifte Madils AG in 1995.
1956: Foundation of the public limited company "Ski- und Sessellifte Tannenheim-Prodkamm AG" - PRODAG
1959: Foundation of the public limited company "Bergbahnen Tannenboden-Maschgenkamm AG" - TAMAG
1973: The company name "Ski- und Sessellifte Tannenheim-Prodkamm AG" was changed to "Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG".
1980: The company name "Bergbahnen Tannenboden-Maschgenkamm AG" was changed to "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG".
Obersäss Ski Lift
Manufacturer: W. Städeli
Length: 860 m
Height difference: 140 m
Transport capacity: 1000 people per hour
Arve Ski Lift
Manufacturer: W. Städeli
Length: 1050 m
Height difference: 312 m
Transport capacity: 1000 people per hour
In 1973, the transport capacity of the Obersäss Ski Lift was increased from 1,000 to 1,200 persons per hour. This was also the case with the Arve Ski Lift in 1974.
In autumn 1965, work started on the 4-seater gondola cable car Tannenboden - Maschgenkamm. At the time, it was the longest monocable gondola lift in Europe with detachable grips.
Location: Tannenboden - Maschgenkamm
Type of lift: 4-seater gondola
Manufacturer: Giovanola
Length: 3298 m
Transport capacity: 550 people per hour
1986: Increase of the transport capacity from 550 to 825 persons per hour by Bartholet Metallbau AG.
The Schwammkopf Ski Lift from Skilifte Madils AG was built with a transport capacity of 700 people per hour by the manufacturer W. Städeli.
1969: Foundation of Liftanlagen Mittenwald Prod AG (LMP)
1970: Merger of PRODAG and LMP
"Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" took over Mittenwald Prod AG in 1999.
Between 1970 and 1972, two new lifts with fixed grips were built (Tannenheim-Podalp & Prodalp-Prodkamm). To increase ride comfort, the chairs were designed to protect from the cold.
Location: Prodalp - Prodkamm
Type of lift: 2-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: Maschinenfabrik Habegger AG
Length: 1750 m
Transport capacity: 830 people per hour
Location: Tannenheim - Prodalp
Type of lift: 2-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: Maschinenfabrik Habegger AG
Length: 1492 m
Transport capacity: 900 people per hour
Berggasthaus Pordalp mountain inn was built with seating for 260 people. A children's & beginners' lift was also put into operation close by.
1986: The restaurant was converted to FreeFlow.
1992: Extension and conversion of the Berggasthaus.
Seeben Ski Lift was built with a transport capacity of 1000 people per hour.
The summit station of the Leist chairlift is located at an altitude of 2222 m, making it the highest in the Flumserberg winter sports area.
Location: Grueb - Leist
Type of lift: 2-seater chairlift with fixed grips
Manufacturer: Garaventa AG
Length: 950 m
Height difference: 372 m
Transport capacity: 1200 people per hour
To make it easier to switch between the two ski areas of "Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" and "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG", Bartholet Metallbau AG was commissioned to build the connecting chairlift between Obersäss and Twärchamm. The fixed-grip 2-seater chairlift was opened for the 1981/82 winter season with a capacity of 1000 passengers per hour.
The cable car was built by the simple company "Crappabahn", in which the "Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" and the "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" each held half of the shares. Skipool Flumserberg was established in this context. The ordinary partnership was fully transferred to Bergbahnen Flumserberg AG in 2008.
Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG
In 1983, technical snowmaking was introduced in the Maschgenkamm - Arve area by "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG".
Further construction measures:
1995: A pumping station was built at Seeben Lake that can pump 2 x 35 litres per second. The water concession for Seeben Lake amounts to 150,000 m3. In the same year, a pipeline was also built between Maschgenkamm and Obersäss.
1996: The pipeline to the Twärchamm valley station was put into operation.
2003: The snowmaking area was enlarged by means of a pipeline to the Twärchamm summit station.
2007: A pipeline for snowmaking was installed in the Tannenboden area.
Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG
The first attempts at snowmaking were made as early as the 1970s, starting at the hydrant for the legendary night slalom event at the Tannenheim ski run. From 1983, the racetrack in the Schnabel area was connected with underground hydrants from the new Prodalp - Reservoir Chläuschi hydrant line. With the construction of the Prodkamm 4-seater chairlift, a pump line was also laid along with the new power supply. The pumping station was in the valley station of the old ski lift, so that about four underground hydrants could be supplied in the uppermost slope below the summit station.
In 2007, “Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG” expanded the technical snowmaking system in the Prodkamm area. The Prodalp pumping station has a capacity of 40 litres per second. In addition, a pipeline was laid to Prodkamm.
Location: Seeben - Zigerboden
Type of lift: 2-seater chairlift with fixed grips
Manufacturer: Bartholet Metallbau AG
Length: 990 m
Height difference: 377 m
Transport capacity: 1200 people per hour
The new lift replaced the ski and chair lift built in 1955. The 4-seater chairlift was one of the most powerful chairlifts in Europe and even back then transported more than 1 million passengers per year.
Location: Prodalp - Prodkamm
Type of lift: Detachable 4-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: Poma AG & Bartholet Metallbau AG
Length: 1755 m
Height difference: 369 m
Transport capacity: 2880 people per hour
First detachable 4-seater
The detachable system allowed for easy boarding and alighting, as it considerably slowed down the speed at which the stations were approached. Thanks to the transport capacity of 2400 people per hour, the travel time could be reduced by half and was less than 7 min. This was the highest installed transport capacity at the time. The constructed cableway travelled 4 m/s.
Location: Tannenheim - Prodalp
Type of lift: 12-seater gondola cable car
Manufacturer: BACO-POMA AG & Bartholet Metallbau AG
Length: 1460 m
Height difference: 351 m
Transport capacity: 2400 people per hour
With the new cable car, 900 more people per hour could be transported to Prodalp.
The new 12-seater gondola cable car replaced the more than 20-year-old double chairlift and the 40-year-old ski lift.
1992: Construction of the 4-seater chairlifts Chrüz and Arve by Garaventa AG. These replaced the two ski lifts and can each transport 2100 people per hour.
1995: Garaventa AG replaced the Obersäss Ski Lift with the Stelli detachable 4-seater chairlift. The chairlift has a capacity of 2100 people per hour.
Fast-paced sledging fun is guaranteed on the 3 km long, moderately difficult sledging run from Prodalp to Tannenheim. The sledders arrive comfortably with the 12-seater Prodalp Express gondola cable car from Tannenheim to Prodalp, where the downhill run starts.
Since it was founded in 2001, Bergbahnen Flumserberg AG, as the operating company, has taken over the management of all the business of the partner companies on a contract basis. The two companies referred to are "Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" and "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG".
Location: Twärchamm
Type of lift: Detachable 4-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: BACO-POMA AG & Bartholet Metallbau AG
Length: 475 m
Height difference: 194 m
Transport capacity: 2000 people per hour
This cable car was the first visible sign of the close cooperation between the two cable car companies "Prodkammbahnen Flumserberg AG" and "Maschgenkammbahnen Flumserberg AG".
The lift replaced the 2-seater chairlift built in 1981.
The 8-seater gondola cable car from Unterterzen to Oberterzen and Tannenboden was built in 2005 by Garaventa AG. The gondola cable car, equipped with the latest cable car technology, replaced the aerial tramway dating from the 1950s.
1200 people per hour can be transported from Unterterzen to Flumserberg in just 12 minutes.
Highlight: Flumserberg was the first winter sports area in Switzerland with its own S-Bahn connection.
Location: Prodalp - Prodkamm
Type of lift: Switzerland's first detachable 8-seater chairlift
Manufacturer: Garaventa AG
Length: 1726 m
Height difference: 369 m
Transport capacity: 4000 people per hour
This high-tech installation replaced the previous 4-seater and 2-seater chairlifts, which had been in operation for 20 and 35 years respectively.
In 2017, the 8-seater chairlift was equipped with Garaventa's Bike Clip. This allows the transport of up to five bikes per chair.
2007: Foundation of the public limited company BBF Sport & Touristik AG.
2008: Opening of INTERSPORT Walensee in Unterterzen.
