Investments in the future

The V-Cableway generation project

The Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondola Cableway and Jungfrau Railways are planning to build a V-Cableway that will provide access to both the Eiger Glacier as well as Männlichen. From a common terminal in Grindelwald Grund, a tricable gondola runs to the Eigergletscher and a ten-person gondola runs to Männlichen.
The V-Cableway will have a connection to public transport via the Bernese Oberland Railway at the new Rothenegg station. The travel times to Jungfraujoch and the ski area will be significantly shortened by 47 minutes. Thanks to the direct public transport connection, there has been a shift in traffic from road to rail. With its eight components, the V-Cableway project is designed for the entire Jungfrau Region.

The V-Cableway project is a strategic project that strengthens the competitiveness of Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and the Jungfrau Ski Region. The excursion to the Jungfraujoch is one of the best known and most popular tourist trips in Switzerland on the international market, and it is therefore a significant economic factor for the canton of Bern with a nationwide influence. The Jungfrau Ski Region is one of the largest and most popular ski regions in Switzerland.

Purpose and goal
The project targets the main objectives of quality and future. The V-Cableway secures the medium and long term successful future of tourism throughout the entire Jungfrau Region as a top year-round destination in Swiss tourism. It strengthens the competitiveness of the Jungfraujoch as a beacon known worldwide, and it helps the winter sports destination reach the top position in international competition. With the direct connection to public transport, a clear reduction in arrival times as well as a shift from road to rail are achieved.

Economic impact of the V-project
The final report from Ecoplan[I] shows that the V-Cableway project is of great economic significance for the Jungfrau Region and especially for Grindelwald. A significantly positive impact on employment and value creation is expected in the construction phase as well as during the operational phase:

• Between 182 and 592 jobs can be secured or created in Grindelwald with the project. The resulting value added is between 30 and 67 million Swiss francs.
• Between 342 and 776 new jobs will be created, and there will be 53 to 105 million Swiss francs of added value generated throughout the canton of Bern.
• The project generates total annual tax revenues of 11 to 14.6 million Swiss francs.
• If the V-Cableway project is not implemented, then the situation in Grindelwald will not remain the same as it is today. A reduction in demand should be expected to a greater or lesser extent. In all scenarios without a V-Cableway, labour and value losses are expected.
• Pure replacement investments in the GGM are not enough to halt the downward trend in ski tourism. The ski area would basically remain unchanged. There would be no terminal, no car park and no direct connection to public transport through the Rothenegg station.
• The V-Cableway project is an important component for allowing Grindelwald and the Jungfrau Region to be positioned as premium destinations.
• The sightseeing tourism to the Jungfraujoch is an important pillar for tourism in the entire Jungfrau Region.
• The improved public transport connection greatly increases the attractiveness of the railway and leads to reduced traffic on the roads.

Impact and development scenarios of the V-Cableway project