Expert comments on the cable car accident in Laax GR

In Laax GR there was an incident with a cable car gondola on Wednesday afternoon when it was together with passengers and passengers transported a load uphill. Apparently the load was too heavy, because the gondola brushed against several trees during the journey and finally even touched the ground, whereupon the gondola driver initiated an emergency brake and stopped the journey. Several people fell on itthere to the ground, with a woman slightly injured in the finger.
How exactly this incident came about is still unclear. According to Sascha Kunz, head of investigation at the Swiss investigation agency, wWe are currently doing preliminary investigations before making a decision to initiate an investigation. “We are currently in contact with the canton police and with the company,” says Kunz when asked by 20 Minuten.

According to cable car engineer Reto Canale, there are clear guidelines for the transport of so-called underloads, i.e. additional cargo under the passenger cabin. “The gross vehicle weight rating must be adhered to, even with underloads,” says Canale. Sensors are built into the vehicle that measure the weight of the payload including the underload. “In the cabin it can be seen when the maximum weight is exceeded. However, this signal can be bypassed manually, ”explains Canale.

When planning a cable car, the permissible total weight of the vehicles is also defined. “When calculating the ropes and determining the dimensions of the supports and stations, various factors are taken into account, such as the weight of vehicles and ropes, the terrain and the required ground clearance,” says Canale. There can be various reasons for the collision with the site. «Most likely the total weight of the vehicle was too great. However, additional factors may also have played a role, ”says the expert.

It is surprising that you can see in the pictures that not only the snow but also dirt was pushed away by the underload. “Normally, a certain snow cover is also taken into account in the planning. The fact that the underload could still touch the ground could have been caused by insufficient ground clearance at the point in question, insufficient consideration of the dimensions of the underload or the payload being exceeded by a large amount, ”says Canale.

The risk of a rope break, as occurred in the accident in Stresa, is practically non-existent even in the event of overloading. “There are major safety factors with ropes. Even with four times the force in the pulling ropes, they would not break », says Canale. You have a lot of experience with ropes. The systematic, seamless controls, together with the ideal interweaving of the wires, ensured a very high level of security.

Upon request, the Laax media office announced that it was currently investigating how the gondola could be overloaded. Therefore, no more precise information can be given at the moment. According to Roman Rüegg, media spokesman for the Cantonal Police of Graubünden, clarifications are now being made about the course of the accident. You stand with the SUST as well as with the public prosecutor’s office in Graubündenwho also makes preliminary investigations, in contact.