Zermatt-Magazin 2023

44 Zermatt Bergbahnen | Zermatt Magazin
THE MATTERHORN
ALPINE CROSSING –
THE COUNTDOWN
HAS BEGUN
Early summer 2023 will see the completion of the "project of a
generation" that will go down in history as the highest crossing of
the Alps by cable car. The vision of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing
enabling the year-round connection of Zermatt and Cervinia
by cable car has been made possible thanks to a great deal of
pioneering spirit, heart and soul. Soon, Europe’s highest border
crossing by cable car will offer a comfortable ride, spectacular
experiences and a whole load of new excursion opportunities.
An extraordinary construction site
In the village of Zermatt at around 1620 metres
above sea level, the sun is shining and the temperatures
are pleasantly warm. Summer has given way
to autumn colours and the sun soon warms up the
body. It is almost too warm for a jacket. It takes
around 45 minutes by train from here to the highest
mountain station in Europe. With the Matterhorn
always in sight, the meadows and trees take
on more and more colour, and from the Trockener
Steg station, the landscape is rugged, rocky and
impressive. Having reached the top of the railway,
the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise offers an incredible
view of 38 peaks above four thousand metres
and 14 different glaciers. The construction site of
the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II is relatively well
concealed and invisible to guests. The mountain
station of the new 3S cable car, which will open
in early summer 2023, will be directly connected
to the existing mountain station of the Matterhorn
Glacier Ride I.
Behind large formwork boards, the metal door
leads directly out into the rock face of the Klein
Matterhorn, where the shell of the mountain station
and the cable car guide bars are located. Large
wooden elements give the station a certain warmth
as the construction workers move around the site,
secured with carabiners, safety belts and wearing
helmets. Klaus Gitz, foreman at Ulrich Imboden
AG and manager of the highest construction site
in Europe, sits in a small, white container. He loves
his work and also the extraordinary workplace at
almost 4,000 metres above sea level. "I enjoy the
quiet up here," he admits with a smile. "It is a privilege
to be part of this pioneering project. The conditions
at this altitude can be very challenging and
exhausting. But the view when the weather is nice,
and the sunset, also give you back a lot," says Gitz.
The last major hurdle is pulling the cable between
the mountain and valley stations. During the past
four months, a total of five cables have been set –
two fixed suspension cables on each side and one
pull rope, which is spliced as an endless loop. In
early summer 2023, the time will have come and
the highest crossing of the Alps by cable car will
open.
A breathtaking experience
The route from the Klein Matterhorn mountain station
down to the Testa Grigia valley station is over
2,000 metres long. It covers a difference in altitude
of around 360 metres in just four minutes without