Ropeway (cable) lines as part of public transport services in urban areas are becoming increasingly popular, as we have already reported on several occasions (see HERE and HERE). Another such line went into operation in Mexico City – ‘Cablebús Linea 3’ is the name given to it locally and is intended to be clearly recognisable as part of the local transport network in the capital region.
Doppelmayr was commissioned to build the modern gondola lift as a partner, as was previously the case with ‘Cablebús LInea 1’, which has been in operation since July 201 and already attracted a great deal of attention at the time. On 24 September 2024, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, elected (and now appointed) president and former mayor of Mexico City, personally inaugurated the new Linea 3 as a sustainable transport system.
The new line
This new public transport solution connects key areas of the Mexican capital and is part of a sustainable and efficient transport model that will benefit residents and visitors alike. Cablebús Línea 3 has six stations and connects the districts of Los Pinos and Vasco de Quiroga over a total length of 5.5 kilometres. The line crosses the famous Chapultepec forest. With an initial capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour and direction, Cablebús Línea 3 is expected to transport around 12 million passengers per year – with the final expansion, an increase to up to 36 million users is possible.
The ropeway will not only have a positive impact on public mobility, but also on tourism. With Cablebús Línea 3, the residents of the Santa Fe region will benefit from significantly shorter journey times and better connections to important public transport services, such as the suburban train line “Tren Insurgente” and the Constituyentes metro station. In addition, Cablebús Línea 3 will better utilise the area’s tourism potential and provide access to cultural and sports projects as part of the Mexican government’s ‘Chapultepec Forest Project: Nature and Culture’.
The technology
The detachable gondola lift was built by the worldwide operating, Austrian ropeway manufacturer Doppelmayr and is equipped with the latest technology from the D-Line ropeway generation. It has 71 OMEGA V cabins, each of which can accommodate ten passengers. With a travel speed of six metres per second, the total travel time is reduced from 40 to just 21 minutes. This means of transport offers a fast and comfortable travelling experience and makes the Cablebús Línea 3 an attractive and efficient alternative for daily commuter traffic.
All pictures: © Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH
