Chamonix / Les Grands Montets Cable Car Fire and Replacement

ChrisC

Well-known member
I was reading some Chamonix snow reports, and it looks like Les Grands Montets was never able to recover from the fire, and its cable cars are permanently offline/out of commission. It's like skiing Jackson Hole without the tram.

https://snowbrains.com/chamonix-area-ca ... fire-open/

They took the trams off the list on the snow report and put a big yellow construction sign on the trams on the live map.

https://www.chamonix.com/snow-report,89,en.html

And some up-to-date info:

https://www.facebook.com/16302577205759 ... 31?sfns=cl
 
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ChrisC":1xpn6jd7 said:
Like skiing Jackson Hole without the tram.
Never been to Chamonix so I can't comment on the comparison; however, I'd argue that JH is very skiable without using the tram. Certainly a lot less efficient to do T2B laps, but still.
 
This is much worse than Jackson without its tram. On my best ski day at Jackson I never set foot on the tram because there was powder to be had everywhere and I didn't want to waste 45+ minutes in a tram line. The only terrain you lose without it is Rendezvous Bowl. I skied the Hobacks twice on that day from Sublette. http://bestsnow.net/TRsFTO/20060129Jackson.html

The Lognan fire took out two trams, an access tram from the valley floor and the 4,000 vertical tram to the highest point of Grands-Montets. The lower Plan Joran gondola can probably handle the access traffic adequately. But the upper tram is the only access to the Argentiere Glacier. On the other side, the upper Bochard gondola rises 2,700 vertical.

So I'm glad Liz got to experience Grands-Montets in full operation last January. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12572
 
Tony Crocker":2gpltaxk said:
This is much worse than Jackson without its tram.

Agreed. The upper tram was/is a huge part of the Grand Montets. The glacier side runs off the upper tram are spectacular. Reference this pics-post on my TR there in 2012 for Tram pics.

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10070&p=64793&hilit=grand+montets#p64721

Super sad to hear of the fire and resulting damage. Seems like a hugely reduced season for them. Hopefully they were insured.
 
Tony Crocker":ll8ch7r9 said:
This is much worse than Jackson without its tram.

Agree too. I guess Kicking Horse with its gondola offline would be worse? :-(

I was lucky to ski Grands Montets last April and able to lap the tram without lines. (Never understood how the tram reservations worked?) Definitely one of the most iconic lifts in the Alps/World - along with the Aiguille du Midi cable car.

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Interesting update for the Les Grands Montets trams - 3 more years.

https://www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com/ ... s-montets/

“We now hear that the lift company ‘hopes’ to have the replacement completed three years from now – though it’s worth noting that ‘the precise timeline is still dependent on negotiations with one of the three insurance companies involved’. Hmmm.“

“The project to replace the lifts, which will involve a complete redesign of the Lognan area, has been placed in the hands of the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano, designer of the Shard in London; he also had a hand in the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris. So no expense spared; “

“The new lift from the valley will be another cable car, with its base station ‘in a better location for public transport users, to include a direct access to and from Argentière village and train station’. “

“The upper lift will ‘probably’ be a 3-cable gondola; but don’t get too excited about an end to the queues – we’re told that the hourly capacity will be only ‘moderately’ increased, according to the lift company. (This may be eco-political spin, though: other sources suggest the new lift will carry 1800/hour, more than double the very modest 700/hour capacity of the old lift.)”

Sounds like an S3 super gondola would be a great addition - eliminating reservations in mid winter!
 
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I'm assuming an S3 gondola would be like the 20-24 person capacity gondolas we used out of the Bellevarde and Avoriaz base areas.

This is a long time without that lift at Grands Montets. Jackson was only 2 years without its tram and it installed a temporary lift in Rendezvous Bowl then. FYI Jackson's tram will run at 25% capacity in 2020-21.
 
Saw the plans for the new Grands Montets tram and S3 gondola. Impressive: Here

First Images of the new Grands Montets Lifts released​

Written by Iain Published: 08 February 2023
The first images of the designs for the new Grands Montets gondola – by famous architect Renzo Piano - have been released…and they look stunning.

BASE STATION, ARGENTIÈRE (1230M)

The base station in the valley at Argentière will move slightly further back than the previous lift and will have a smaller footprint.
The existing station will be removed and the car park reduced in size, to encouraged increased use of buses and trains.
23_mont-new1.jpg

MID STATION, LOGNON (1970M)

The mid-station at Lognon will be slightly lower and smaller than the previous one, with a new exit area designed to improve the flow of skiers.
The lift has been closed since the fire at the mid-station in September 2018. The loss incurred by the Companie du Mont Blanc has been estimated at EUR95 million.
23_mont-new2.jpg

TOP STATION, GRANDS MONTETS (3300M)

The top station will be cube-shaped, with dimensions of 20m x 20m, and offer superb views. It will be integrated into the side of the Aiguille des Grands Montets.
A 70m tunnel will replace the current steps to reach the Col des Grands Montets and the existing staircase will be dismantled.
The lift from Lognan to Grands Montets will be a 3S-style lift, with significantly more comfort than the previous lift, making it more accessible to pedestrians and tourists.
23_mont-new3.jpg

DESIGN CONCEPT

There is a concept tying the three gondola stations together, relating to pyrites, a mineral found in the mountains. The construction will be modular with wooden frames for the lower two stations and steel for the top station.

 
Some movement on the Grands Monsters cable car replacement. Ground-breaking this spring/summer 2024. :):eusa-clap::eusa-wall:

Assume it will take a few years. Maybe Winter 2026-27??!!!

Link
 
Contract Awarded.

They will put temporary cable cars in for hauling materials and workers. No completion date yet. Since 2018.....

I am surprised this replacement has taken so long. I could not imagine Jackson or Snowbird to be tramless for an equivalent amount of time.



The Grands Montets in Chamonix​

Let’s write the new chapter of one of the world’s most famous ski areas together
After a year of studies, fine-tuning, and preparatory work, the Mountain Planet 2024 Exhibition in Grenoble is the occasion for the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc and Doppelmayr France to bring together the stakeholders of the Grands Montets reconstruction project and officially launch the construction phase of the various infrastructures.

Doppelmayr France has been awarded the contract for the design and construction of the facilities to replace the two sections of cable cars destroyed in the 2018 fire, as well as the reconstruction and redevelopment of the infrastructure at the summit station of the Aiguille of the Grands Montets. This contract, divided into seven lots, with a total value of 107.6 million euros, was awarded to the consortium formed by Doppelmayr France as part of a comprehensive project totaling 155 million euros.

A Masterpiece at the Summit​

The reconstruction of the ski lifts and infrastructure destroyed in the September 2018 fire leads to a complete and thoughtful redesign of the facilities at this legendary site. To be in harmony with the classified site of Mont Blanc, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc has enlisted the talented architectural firm RPBW, founded by Renzo Piano. The fascination with the classified site of the Aiguille des Grands Montets, machinery, and the art of engineering has led to the design of a complex comprising four stations on two sections. The cable connecting the machines in two sections is not only physical but also metaphorical. It serves as a guiding thread in the design and materializes an ambition for coherence across all buildings. The stations consist of glass volumes housing the ski lift machinery, inspired by nature, crystals, and notably pyrite. Their structures are made of highly technical modular steel elements. Peripheral to the stations are all the functions related to operation, housed in opaque sections called “topos,” each adapted in appearance to integrate seamlessly with the spirit of the location. For the Aiguille des Grands Montets, the soul of the classified site, a 20-meter cube is integrated into the slope, echoing the perfect geometry of pyrite. This crystal marks the end of the mechanical journey and the sublime beginning of the routes leading to the summit of the Aiguille des Grands Montets with humility, a privileged place for the Chamonix valley and all the peaks overlooking it. Through its architecture, this project aims to requalify the industrial site into a sustainable one and change the perception of ski lifts by transforming passenger transport into a journey.

A responsible site​

At the heart of the classified site of Mont Blanc, the Grands Montets reconstruction site must be virtuous. In addition to the construction lots, the Doppelmayr France consortium will provide a set of logistical means aimed at limiting the use of helicopters and ground transportation. No less than 2 material cable cars (blondins), each with a capacity of 10 tons, will transport all materials and equipment from Argentière to the various construction sites. As for personnel, access to the Aiguille des Grands Montets will be ensured by a service cable car specially designed for the project (from the top of the Herse chairlift to the summit at 3,300 m). These facilities will be dismantled as soon as the permanent installations are put into service.

An expert project​

Doppelmayr France has recruited and brought together a consortium of specialized companies to successfully carry out this extraordinary project under challenging conditions. Companies such as MBTM, Spie Batignolles Génie Civil, Cogeis, Pichler, Pugnat TP, Altitude Construction, Mécamont, Boma Construction, and Egis will contribute their technical expertise and knowledge of the site to support Doppelmayr France. MBTM, specializing in civil engineering operations and the installation of ski lifts, is a historic partner of Doppelmayr France. Spie Batignolles Génie-Civil, together with Cogeis and Pichler, is responsible, among other things, for the construction of the summit infrastructures and the Crystal. Pugnat TP and Altitude Construction, specialists in earthworks and special foundations in constrained sites, are involved in all structures. Mécamont has designed and built the material cable cars and will be responsible for their operation. Boma Construction, with a concrete plant installed in Lognan, will supply all the concrete needed for construction, including some low-carbon concrete. Egis, an engineering firm, brings its expertise in interface monitoring to the consortium. Finally, Doppelmayr France, as the consortium’s lead and coordinator, contributes its expertise in the design and manufacture of ski lifts to replace the two sections of cable cars.

New ski lifts with the absolute comfort requirement​

The reconstruction of the two sections of ski lifts is an opportunity for the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc to modernize access to the Aiguille des Grands Montets and offer future passengers a comfortable and contemplative journey. Thus, the first section from Argentière to Lognan will be equipped with a state-of-the-art monocable gondola consisting of 10-seat cabins. To align with the RPBW project, the stations will be adorned with walls of crystalline glass. The second section of the route from Lognan to the Aiguille des Grands Montets will be equipped with a detachable 3S cable car. This technology is specially designed to overcome the topographical challenges and extreme weather conditions of high mountains. The cabins will offer skiers and tourists 24 seats facing the majestic panorama of the Grands Montets site.

Doppelmayr Group​

The Doppelmayr Group notably represents quality, technology and market leadership in the construction of ropeways for passenger and material transport as well as high-tech intralogistics solutions. The company looks back on 130 years of corporate history and a century of experience in the planning, development, design, production, and construction of ropeways. This proven technology and the reliability achieved with it have helped make ropeways a popular and high-performance mobility solution in skiing and recreation regions, as well as in cities worldwide.
 
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The collapsed boom of the crane can be seen. | Image: Compagnie du Mont-Blanc


At this rate, the Grands Montets Cable will never get rebuilt. :p:confused::mad:

It will, but this timeline is almost on track to take a decade. After the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car to Mont Blanc/Vallee Blanc, this is probably France's best and most famous lift—if not the Alps.

The loss of this tool risks in any case causing delays for this 150 million euro project, which was already behind schedule due to the harsh weather conditions encountered in the spring and in recent weeks.
The violence of the winds and the significant precipitation observed at this altitude in the Mont-Blanc massif could also be one of the explanations for the dislocation of the crane arm. Gusts of 132 km/h were measured during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday at the Aiguille du Midi.
Before this incident, the commissioning of the new cable car to access the summit of Grands Montets was planned for December 2026.




Likely due to an Atlantic Hurricane:

Storm Alex (named Brigitte in central Europe, and Aiden in the UK and Ireland) produced strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms, which caused landslides and floods in southeastern France, northern Italy and central Europe between 2 and 7 October, with at least 15 fatalities.


These September and October snow storms in the Alps have been unreal.




 
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Before this incident, the commissioning of the new cable car to access the summit of Grands Montets was planned for December 2026.
Itself already an insanely long timeline to build one lift. That $150M Euro price tag is also insane. Having ridden the old tram, I can't imagine a replacement taking more than ~3 years and about half the stated budget to be honest.
 
Storm Alex was in October of 2020.

I did not know that many Atlantic hurricane remnants could hit Europe.

We will try Hurricane Kirk 2024, but the October date is off to attribute the crane wreckage to the storm. (October 9, 2024, storm vs. October 2, 2024, Grands Montets crane accident).


And Alps snowfall
 
Itself already an insanely long timeline to build one lift. That $150M Euro price tag is also insane. Having ridden the old tram, I can't imagine a replacement taking more than ~3 years and about half the stated budget to be honest.

It's crazy when similar projects have been happening in the Alps at Zermatt or Grindelwald at about 1/3 the cost and time. Some say insurance claims delayed the Chamonix project - similar to Freedom Tower/World Trade Center.



Zermatt constructed a similar (almost the same) S3 lift opening in 2018: Matterhorn Glacier Ride I to the Klein Matterhorn summit (a 28pers. Tricable ropeway). This is a replacement lift for the 100pers. Aerial tramway/Reversible ropeway (1979 YOC) Trockener Steg-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car (that still stands as a backup).

NEW

OLD


The construction costs for the Matterhorn Glacier Ride cable car project in Zermatt were significant. Here are the key details:
  1. The new 3S cable car, known as the Matterhorn Glacier Ride, cost CHF 52 million (Swiss Francs) to construct
  2. Some sources report a slightly higher figure of CHF 60 million for the total cost of the project
    https://www.snow-online.com/skimag/zermatt-builds-worlds-highest-3s-cableway.htm
  3. The construction took place over approximately 600 working days and involved 145 people from 38 companies from Switzerland and Italy
  4. This project was Zermatt Bergbahnen AG's largest-ever construction project
The construction was particularly challenging due to the high altitude (almost 4000m) and steep terrain, which affected worker productivity and construction techniques. It's worth noting that this significant investment was made to improve the capacity and quality of the lift system to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which is Europe's highest mountain station at 3,883 meters. The new cable car features state-of-the-art cabins designed by Pininfarina, with each cabin able to accommodate 28 people.



Zermatt constructed another S3 lift opening in 2023: Matterhorn Glacier Ride II

The construction costs for the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, also known as the Alpine Crossing, were significant. Here are the key details about the construction costs:

Construction Cost Estimates​
The cost estimates for this project varied slightly across different sources:
CHF 45 million (Swiss Francs) is the most commonly cited figure for the construction costs.
Some sources initially estimated the cost to be around CHF 30 million.
Project Details​
The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II is part of the larger Matterhorn Alpine Crossing project, which connects Zermatt in Switzerland with Breuil-Cervinia in Italy. Here are some additional details related to the project:​
The new 3S cable car runs from the Klein Matterhorn mountain station (3,883 meters above sea level) to the Testa Grigia valley station (3,458 meters above sea level).​
The route is 1.6 kilometers long and covers an altitude difference of 363 meters.​
The journey time between the two stations is approximately 4 minutes.​
Construction Challenges​
The construction of this project was particularly challenging due to several factors:​
The high altitude (almost 4,000 meters above sea level) affected worker productivity and construction techniques.​
Workers had to contend with wind, snow, and significant temperature fluctuations.​
The thin air at this altitude also posed challenges for the construction team.​
Construction manager Anton Lauber stated, "There is no comparable construction site in the world," highlighting the unique challenges of this project2. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II opened on July 1, 2023, completing the vision of a continuous cable car link between Switzerland and Italy across the Alps. This significant investment has created a unique attraction, allowing year-round pedestrian travel between the two countries at high altitudes.
 
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