TL;DR
Construction has started on a new Kapellenbahn chairlift on the Schmittenhöhe above Zell am See, with the goal of having it operational for the 2026-27 ski season. The existing 4-seater from 2001 is being replaced by a detachable 8-seater with a capacity of 3,400 people per hour - a 42% increase on the current lift.
Construction has started on a new Kapellenbahn chairlift on the Schmittenhöhe above Zell am See, with the operator targeting completion before the 2026-27 ski season.
Schmittenhöhebahn AG received the building permit following an extensive approval process and has moved straight into construction. The new lift replaces a 4-seater chairlift that has been running since 2001.
The New Lift - Key Specs
The replacement is a detachable 8-seater chairlift running between valley station at 1,728m and mountain station at 1,964m - a 236m vertical climb across 10 towers. Capacity increases from 2,394 to 3,400 people per hour, a 42% improvement. Travel time drops to approximately three minutes at speeds of up to 5.5m/s, with a maximum of 42 chairs on the line.
Passenger comfort features include heated individual seats, weather protection hoods, automatically locking safety bars, and a conveyor belt entry system at the valley station. The slower detachable speed at boarding and alighting points is a significant upgrade over the fixed-grip predecessor.
The mountain station will also incorporate Doppelmayr's AURO system - the same camera and sensor-based safety monitoring already installed on the resort's Breiteckbahn - which automatically responds to issues in the disembarkation area. Doppelmayr is the manufacturer.
Environmental Measures
The project includes a detailed ecological management programme covering the construction phase. Measures include targeted reforestation, preservation of old-growth forest areas over 150 years old, and specific protections for grouse habitat. A roughly three-kilometre protective fence with buried traps is being erected for amphibian protection, with daily checks and relocation of animals to prepared alternative habitats before each construction phase advances.
On the equipment side, the existing chairlift will not be scrapped - it is being carefully dismantled and re-erected in Romania. Schmittenhöhebahn AG applies the same approach to snow groomers, snowmobiles, and other infrastructure where practical.
Broader Investment Context
The Kapellenbahn follows the recent Sonnkogelbahn replacement and the Breiteckbahn modernisation as the latest in an ongoing infrastructure programme on the Schmittenhöhe. All three projects represent consecutive investment cycles at the one ski area, with the operator framing the Kapellenbahn as the next stage of a longer-term development plan rather than a standalone project.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
