Koblenz starts an innovative field test: transporting packages by cable car!

Koblenz starts an innovative field test: transporting packages by cable car!

In many German cities, new transport options are being intensively considered. A particularly exciting project has now seen the light of day in Koblenz. The Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da), DHL and the Koblenz cable car have jointly launched the “Skyfreight” field test. This could be a real turning point in urban logistics. The focus here is on cable cars not only as a means of transport for passengers, but also for parcels.

As part of this project, we are investigating how parcels from the valley station at Deutsches Eck can be loaded into cable car cabins in order to then be unloaded at the mountain station and distributed with e-bikes in a newly designed residential area on the site of the former Fritzsch barracks. In this way, delivery traffic on the streets of Koblenz could be significantly reduced, which not only improves air quality but also reduces traffic congestion. In an additional step, returns are also brought to the mountain station on e-bikes and then loaded back onto the cable car.

Scientific support

The project is carried out by an interdisciplinary team led by Prof. Dr. Johanna Bucerius and Prof. Dr. Dirk Wollenweber provides scientific support. You deal intensively with the combination of freight and passenger transport as well as the general efficiency of parcel transport in urban areas. There is a mathematics team at h_da that simulates queues in order to identify optimization potential. The aim of these analyzes is to create a guide for freight transport that can also be useful for future cable car projects in other cities, such as the planned cable car in Bonn.

But that's not all. Urban cable cars are not only playing an increasingly important role in Koblenz. According to the BMV, there is currently little practical experience with these cable car systems in urban areas in Germany. However, this could soon change. The guide “Urban cable cars in local public transport”, which was published on November 30, 2022, is intended to support municipalities and transport companies with implementation.

A good hand for the future

Sebastian Beck from Drees & Sommer SE underlines the urgency of urban cable cars, especially in view of congested streets and public transport. These air routes are not only climate-friendly and can be implemented quickly, they also take up little space and are independent of the weather - advantages that are more important than ever, especially in densely populated areas.

Funding for such infrastructure projects is also guaranteed. The law on local transport financing (GVFG) stipulates that projects with a size of 30 million euros or more can be supported - this can include up to 75% of the eligible costs, as long as the requirements of EU state aid law are adhered to.

The future of urban mobility looks promising, and projects like “Skyfreight” in Koblenz show how innovative approaches can change everyday life. So can cable cars be the solution to making our cities greener and smarter? Experts seem to think we are on the right track. Further information on the topic can be found here: Locomotive Report, BMV and Seilbahnen.de.