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On Wednesday there was an incident with a cable car in Laax. The gondola then returned to the valley station. One person was slightly injured.
“The gondola was either overloaded or the rope was not properly tensioned,” says a news scout, who wants to remain anonymous.
Nicholas Illiano
Apparently the transport load attached to steel cables weighed too much, which is why the load touched the ground at a point with a low crossing height.
Philipp Ruggli
In Laax GR, there was an incident with a cable car on Wednesday afternoon while traveling up the mountain. According to a news scout who was in the gondola, it was also just over the roofs. “The gondola was either overloaded or the rope was not properly tensioned,” says the news scout, who wants to remain anonymous.
During the ride you were very close to the ground until you drove hard into the mountain. “The gondola tilted backwards and many of the occupants fell forward,” says the news scout, describing the situation.
Then you drove back to the valley station. “On the way back we touched trees again,” said the news scout. Once at the bottom, most of the passengers got off. “The train apparently made a trip up with passengers before it was taken out of service,” he says. The employees of the railway took their personal details and said that the incident would now be reported to the Swiss Safety Investigation Board (SUST).
Overloaded gondola
Upon request of 20 minutes, the Weisse Arena Gruppe, to which the mountain railway belongs, will confirm the incident. “Yesterday afternoon a gondola on the Laax – Crap Sogn Gion cable car was routinely carrying loads attached to the underside of the gondola in addition to the 35 passengers and a gondola operator,” said a written reply from the Laax media office.
Apparently the transport load attached to steel cables weighed too much, which is why the load touched the ground at a point with a low crossing height.
After touching, the gondola driver initiated an emergency braking. “The impulse caused by the touch and the rapid braking surprised the passengers, some were able to hold on, others fell to the ground,” it continues. A passenger slightly injured her finger.
The nacelle was not damaged as only the load touched the ground. “The reasons why too large loads were attached are currently being investigated,” said the Laax media office. No transport trips will be made during ongoing operations until the investigations have been completed.
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