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Switzerland

Graubünden

Landquart

Malans

Älplibahn Malans

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Places to see

Switzerland

Graubünden

Landquart

Malans

Älplibahn Malans

Recommended by 107 hikers out of 109

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Location: Malans, Landquart, Graubünden, Switzerland

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Best Hikes to Älplibahn Malans

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1. Älplibahn Malans – Vilan Summit loop from Jenins

12.3km

05:01

790m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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4.6

(17)

138

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2. Älplibahn Malans – Älplibahn Mountain Station loop from Jenins

17.8km

07:34

1,050m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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4.7

(18)

144

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3. Älplibahn Malans – Älplibahn Mountain Station loop from Jenins

15.7km

06:12

860m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Paul

July 23, 2021

Älpli Bahn BS, Malans

The history of the Älplibahn Malans

1. The military needs a railway

The Älplibahn was built during the Second World War to supply the troops stationed on the border with supplies. While a road was being built from the Austrian side to near the border in 1938, the Swiss border guards had to carry ammunition and supplies in an arduous climb from Jenins to the mountain front.

For this reason, the then section commander, Captain Christian Janggen, applied for the construction of a cable car in 1939.

2. The municipality of Malans is involved

After the military pledged a financial contribution of around 90% of the construction costs and the municipality of Malans also agreed to a cable car for transporting wood and people in August 1939, the preparatory work could begin.

In view of the military urgency, the Malans forestry group, which had plenty of experience with wooden cable cars, was immediately released from its other active service obligations and assigned to build the first material cable car.

3. A temporary solution

A forest clearing was immediately cleared. In 1940, the first goods could be transported to Älpli using a temporary transport system with two intermediate stations.

4. First licensed cable car in Graubünden

The project for the new Älplibahn was calculated by Prof. Stüssi from the ETH in Zurich. It finally went into operation in the autumn of 1941. For safety reasons, however, only military transport could be carried out at first.

After additional reconstruction work, it was opened for civilian traffic in September 1945. It was the first licensed cable car in the canton of Graubünden, and with a track length of 3.5 km, it was one of the longest in Switzerland. To this day, it is the railway that climbs the most meters in altitude without stopping.

5. What next

As a tourist railway, the system became a popular excursion destination until operations had to be stopped in 1973 due to urgently needed renovations. Due to the low transport capacity of 16 people per hour, operating income was too low to amortize the high investment costs. After no solution for financing was found, demolition was considered in 1980.

6. Establishment of a cooperative and association

At the end of 1980, the Älplibahn Association was founded, and shortly afterwards the Älplibahn cooperative. The aim of this was to raise the necessary capital to renovate the old system. Thanks to spontaneous help from large sections of the population, shares worth 550,000 francs were subscribed within six months.

7. Reconstruction

The military helped with the reconstruction, and even major railway companies supported the little sister. After the municipality had handed over the cable car to the cooperative, the ropes were replaced, a new drive installed and a modern safety system installed. During the renovation, the system components were dimensioned in such a way that the capacity could later be doubled to 32 people per hour.

8. Over 6000 hours of voluntary work

In addition to the electromechanical renovations, a lot of construction work also had to be done. In 1980 and 1981, up to 40 volunteers were on duty on Saturdays.

Until the cable car was reopened in July 1982, well over 6000 hours of voluntary work were carried out. There was no shortage of work in the following years either, as masts had to be renovated and the mountain station had to be secured with a protective roof and avalanche barriers.

9. Operated by volunteers

Demand on weekends grew ever greater, so that the existing capacity was soon no longer sufficient. In 1989, the cable car was expanded to a double-cable car. To ensure that operations continue, numerous volunteer machine operators and a group for construction and maintenance work are still on duty today. Over 200 volunteers take care of the physical well-being in the mountain station's pub.

10. A large Älplibahn community

This has led to the creation of a large Älplibahn community in which like-minded people of all ages have found and continue to find meaningful leisure activities. Thanks to the broad support of 550 cooperative members and 800 club members, funding is also secured. Passion, commitment and enthusiasm will ensure that the Älplibahn Malans lives on for a long time to come!

Source: Älplibahn Malans

aelplibahn.ch

Translated by Google •

Kitty767

November 15, 2021

Be sure to try the delicious homemade cake!

The entire concept of the cable car and restaurant is made possible by many hard-working volunteers - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The cable car runs from mid-May to mid-October and the trip must be reserved in advance.

Translated by Google •

KathrinS 💃

August 22, 2024

After ordering a cabin by phone (if requested by the operator), you can climb a height of 1,197 meters in 15 minutes.

Price one way: 14 CHF

Dogs: 6 CHF (my little Jack Russell rode for free)

Parking: right in front (free of charge) / if you want to park for several days, you can indicate this there. The license plate number will then be noted 😉

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 1,810 m

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Saturday 20 September

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Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

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Location: Malans, Landquart, Graubünden, Switzerland

Älplibahn Malans

1. Älplibahn Malans – Vilan Summit loop from Jenins

2. Älplibahn Malans – Älplibahn Mountain Station loop from Jenins

3. Älplibahn Malans – Älplibahn Mountain Station loop from Jenins

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