A NEW VALLEY LIFT – ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE REGION
Pierre Carrée: at the entrance to the Grand Massif Resort, on 11 June 2021, the local consortium made up of POMA, la Compagnie des Alpes, ATMB and Crédit Agricole des Savoie officially signed the concession agreement for the future Funiflaine 2S gondola lift.
OF THE PROJECT
Designed in the 1960s for logistical purposes, the valley's first aerial tramway was built for boarding in Magland, in order to transport the workers and materials required to build the Flaine resort. However, the aerial tramway was eventually shelved as cars took over, and the installation was converted into power lines.
Among growing concern about environmental damage to the Arve Valley, in 2019 the local authorities revived plans to construct a valley lift. In March 2021, the Funiflaine project was officially awarded to a consortium of local businesses: POMA, la Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), ATMB and Crédit Agricole des Savoie. Co-financed by public (Syndicat Mixte de Funiflaine) and private players, Funiflaine is a regional development project that prioritises sustainability and soft mobility for transport in the mountains.
The future valley lift, which is scheduled to open in late 2025, will connect the A40 – known as the White Motorway – and the Paris-Chamonix rail link (Magland train station) with the Flaine ski resort, via Pierre Carrée, improving access to the skiing area and significantly cutting road traffic, with the goal of promoting sustainable development of the region.
An intermodal SOFT AND SUSTAINABLE connection
By offering an alternative to cars, whatever the weather, Funiflaine embodies a more eco-friendly approach to mobility which is also fast and safe. By replacing around 85,000 cars, 500 lorries and 100 buses every year, the valley lift will lead to a sharp drop in road traffic and the related CO2 emissions, creating a healthier environment.
The ropeway will be served by several scalable car parks that are perfectly integrated into the natural environment, combined with soft mobility options such as buses and trains. In 2029, a high-speed train stop will be built opposite the FUNIFLAINE station, from which shuttles will carry people to and from Magland train station. The aim of this project is to limit the impact of travel on the environment, health and quality of life, in order to promote responsible tourism in perfect harmony with the region and the people who live there.
Open from December to April as well as in July and August, the Funiflaine is designed to carry some 500,000 passengers per year, along with luggage and supplies for hotels and shops in the Flaine resort. Since it will be open for 9 months of the year, the aerial tramway is poised to boost the attractiveness of the region even out of season.
Technology to benefit the region
The 2S ropeway meets the required eco-performance standards, while adapting to the site’s unique topography and the needs of its users in terms of comfort and service level. The 100% electric technology keeps the environmental impact down to the absolute minimum, and makes efficient use of the land (limited number and height of line structures, compact, well-integrated stations). The stations and line structures have also been designed to blend in perfectly with the local landscape, its natural features and listed architectural environment. Funiflaine is therefore an unbeatable solution to the mobility challenges of today’s world, and is poised to accommodate future changes in the way we live.
The valley lift will be fitted with 68 latest-generation EVO cabins capable of transporting 16 passengers, with 11 seats and 5 standing places, along with a modular space for people with reduced mobility, and bikes.
The Funiflaine will follow the same route as the first aerial tramway in the 1960s, stretching over 5.3 km, with an elevation difference of 1,367 metres, connecting the valley and the resort in less than 15 minutes.
Funiflaine