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The first project of a new cable car to the Rigi has already failed. There is now resistance to the second as well.
The cable car from Weggis in the canton of Lucerne to the Rigi is to be renewed, the concession expires next year. But obstacles repeatedly get in the way of the project. A first project had to be stopped because the Rigi Bahnen couldn’t afford it. Because of the Corona failures, the necessary financial resources are missing.
Those responsible then steamed down their plans and presented a new project in November of this year. The current cable car with two large cabins is to be replaced by a cable car with 21 smaller gondolas for 10 people each. Cost: 20 to 25 million francs.
Concerns about protection forest
So that the cable car can be renewed, the zoning plan of the municipality of Weggis has to be adapted. What is needed is a so-called cable car corridor, a new zone along the current route. This is a prerequisite for being able to submit a building application at all. Until recently, the corresponding change was made by the municipality.
Legend:
The cable car corridor, which must be taken into account in the zone plan, runs along the previous cable car from Weggis in the direction of Rigi Kaltbad.
SRF
14 objections have been received, so the zone change is already meeting with great resistance. Among other things, various environmental associations are jointly defending themselves against the project. They are bothered by the fact that a lot of forest would have to be cut down. «It is a protective forest. Depending on the size of the aisle that has to be cut, this can impair the protective effect of the forest, ”says Urs Steiger, President of the Lake Lucerne Landscape Protection Association.
That is why more information is needed than is currently available. In addition, other aspects should also be examined. Among other things, the community should look at whether a new railway is needed at all. This is also the opinion of Raimund Rodewald from the Swiss landscape protection department.
Legend:
Re-zoning is also required for the planned replacement construction of the mountain station. Visualization.
Rigi railways
“Even the current aisle is seriously damaging the landscape,” says Rodewald. “We should therefore ask ourselves whether we can do without a train entirely.” Maybe the cogwheel train that runs from Vitznau is enough. The environmental protection organizations also demand a new assessment by the Federal Nature and Protection Commission.
Concern comes before the people
The Weggis municipal council is clearly behind the new cable car, but will now have to deal with around 14 objections that have been received. Concerning the concerns of the environmental protection organizations, one now consults with the federal government, says the responsible municipal council Baptist Lottenbach. “We want to make sure whether our planned approach is still correct, or whether adjustments are needed.”
According to an initial federal appraisal, everything has been done correctly so far, Lottenbach continued. Ultimately, the voters of the Weggis community will decide on the new cable car. It is expected that in May 2022 they will decide on the zone planning with the cable car corridor.