Expansion as well as the ensurance of operational performance of urban public transport systems led to high expenditures only few cities are able to realise satisfactorily. Due to the financial situation of public budgets only few cities are able to raise the necessary funds to increase the network and the capacities of their public transport systems. Furthermore, extensions of transport systems and filling gaps within and between transport systems are difficult to achieve. This applies especially to urban areas due to tight space and required interventions in grown urban structures.

Especially in fast and uncontrollably growing cities in South America, Asia and Africa it can be observed that the development of public transport systems cannot keep up with newly emerging districts that are not – or not sufficiently – accessible. Expensive rapid transit railway systems are not viable due to financial or topographical reasons. In order to improve the situation of public transport in such cities an alternative solution to urban transport problems has come up within the last years or even decades: The use of aerial cable car systems as public transport system in urban areas.

Urban ropeway in public transport: Solutions for growing cities

The advantage of an own, hovering transport surface that guarantees independence of road space and its traffic has made cable car systems to an efficient and profitable mode of transport, also due to its low installation costs. Therefore possible applications, dimensioning and economic efficiency of urban ropeway systems as well as their impact on conventional urban transport systems is examined and evaluated within the scope of feasibility studies.

BSL Transportation now has forecasted the demand for a planned urban ropeway in an african capital over 15 years. The results of the demand forecast serves as a base for dimensioning the urban ropeway system. We thereby could draw on our extensive experience in demand and revenue forecasts in local and regional public transport.

12. November 2018