Ischgl gets a luxury gondola
Tue 24 July 07
The old Fimbabahn gondola is being replaced in a 20m euro project with high-speed eight-person gondolas with heated seats ...
Ischgl gets a luxury gondola ©
The Tirolean resort of Ischgl has been busy this summer installing a state-of-the-art new luxury gondola lift. 
It will replace the 24-year-old Fimbabahn gondola from the village up to Idalp, the main hub of the skiing at 2,320 metres, and follow the same route – but with ultra-comfortable high-speed eight-person cabins with heated seats that will carry 2,800 skiers and boarders an hour.
The journey will now take less than seven minutes to the mid-station and another eight minutes on up to Idalp.
New efficient ticket booths at the bottom station fronted by a covered patio to protect passengers from the elements are part of the new development. The mid-station is being rebuilt from basement level and the top station is being completely reconstructed. 
The lift operating company Silvrettaseilbahn AG is investing €20 million (approx 13.5 million) in the project, which got underway in May as soon as the lifts closed at the end of last season and is on track to open on 30 November - the first day of the 07-08 season.
Elsewhere in Ischgl work is underway on the rolling programme of improvements on the slopes, including more snow cannons, and in the village a high-class fish restaurant will open to add to the thriving array of bars, restaurants, hotels and designer shops.
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Ischgl, Austria
