Gondola lifts are available using both monocable and bicable technologies, although most use monocable technology.
Monocable gondola lifts
These lifts are technologically very similar to detachable chairlifts, differing only in the vehicle. Where detachable chairlifts have chairs, monocable gondola lifts have cabins.
Monocable aerial ropeways with both chairs and cabins have been available since 2002.
Passengers embark and disembark with the cabin in motion, reducing its speed in the station (0.5 m/s maximum). Once out of the station, the cabins on this type of installation can operate at speeds of up to 6 m/s (7 m/s with a ministerial exemption).
New monocable gondola lifts can have cabins with seating (currently with a capacity of up to 10 people) or cabins with standing spaces (currently with a capacity of up to 16 people). In addition, manufacturers are now offering more modular cab layouts to take into account the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and people with reduced mobility (particularly in urban transport).
Monocable gondola lifts can have over 100 cabins and reach a throughput of around 3,000 people per hour.
These lifts operate with detachable grips and cabins like detachable chairlifts, but differ in that the cabins are suspended from a carriage which runs on one (2S technology) or two (3S technology) fixed carrying cables and is attached to a moving hauling rope.
In 2022, there were 3 installations of this type in France. They have cabins with capacities of 30 to 35 people for hauling speeds of up to 8 m/s. As with detachable chairlifts, boarding at the station takes place at very low speed.
Bicable gondola lifts - 3S in Val d'Isère - and Teleo in Toulouse | photo STRMTG
