The boom in the construction of urban ropeway systems as a modern means of public transport continues: the Austrian Doppelmayr Group has been commissioned to build the new Cablebús Line 5, which, with a total length of 15.2 kilometres and twelve stations, will be the longest urban ropeway in the world. It will connect the districts of Álvaro Obregón, Magdalena Contreras and Benito Juárez. The new cable car line, with a capacity of up to 3,000 passengers per hour and direction, will reduce current travel times by half. As an integral part of the local public transport network, it will contribute to improving the quality of life for local residents and significantly improve their connections to other parts of the capital. Cablebús Línea 5 is scheduled to go into operation in 2028.
The total investment amounts to 7.9 billion Mexican pesos (around 372 million euros).
The requirements for the new system are:
- Stable operating conditions, even in complex weather conditions.
- Barrier-free access and comfortable travel for all.
- Modern safety and surveillance systems for maximum reliability.
Sustainable mobility that reduces costs and emissions
Line 5 of the Cablebús is characterised by high operational efficiency – the system requires very little space and has minimal impact on the existing infrastructure. This results in significantly lower costs for the transport sectors. The impact on the urban space is minimal. In addition, the project makes a significant contribution to reducing pollutant emissions: the switch to electric cableways improves air quality and increases the efficiency of the existing public transport network. Cablebús has a lower environmental impact than any other form of public transport.
In Mexico City, the cableway system has already proven to be very successful as a means of local transport. In addition to the existing five lines in operation in the region and Line 4 (Tlalpan-Coyoacán) currently under construction, plus the new Line 5, which has now been commissioned, three further lines are planned for the near future:
- Line 6 (Milpa Alta-Tláhuac)
- Line 7 (Cuajimalpa)
- Line 8 (Xochimilco)
Doppelmayr Group has already completed other projects in the capital: Cablebús Lines 1 and 3. In addition to ropeways for public urban transport, the Doppelmayr Group has completed other projects in the country, including the Cable Liner® Aerotrén at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), a RopeCon® system for sustainable material transport in the mining industry, and the Vidanta gondola lift – the first tourist ropeway in a beach resort in Latin America. In addition, another ropeway is currently under construction in Uruapan in the state of Michoacán.
Technical data – 10-MGD Cablebús Line 5, Mexico City:
- Total length: 15.2 km
- 12 stations
- 462 cabins with a capacity of 10 passengers each
- 114 towers
- 5 sections (3 main lines and 2 branch lines)
- Transport capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour and direction
- Cable car system: detachable gondola lift
- Direct connection to Mixcoac underground station (lines 7 and 12) strengthens networked mobility in the west of Mexico City
- Travel time savings of more than 50%
