Cabin lifts

Funitel

A funitel carries wide cabins gripped to two parallel haul ropes set about 3 m apart. The wide base keeps the cabins from swinging, so funitels run in wind that stops ordinary gondolas. Cabins detach in the stations, where they slow right down for boarding.

A funitel up a glacier ridgeSchematic funitel on high, exposed terrain: wide cabins on two parallel haul ropes rising over a glacier to a station on a rocky ridge, with wind blowing across.
  1. Lower station
  2. Two parallel haul ropes
  3. Tower with twin sheave trains
  4. Ridge station
  5. Glacier

At a glance

Typical range
Per carrier
20–33 people
Line speed
6–7 m/s
People per hour
3,000–4,000 people/hour
Grip
DetachableEnclosed · Skis on: No
Wind tolerance
Beginner-friendly

How it works

One, two or three ropesSchematic end-on sections in a side wind: a gondola on one rope swings most, a funitel on two wide-set haul ropes much less, and a 3S least.
  1. Side wind
  2. Gondola: one rope
  3. Funitel: two haul ropes
  4. 3S: track ropes and a haul rope
  5. Track ropes
  6. Haul rope

One endless haul rope is laid as a double loop, giving two parallel ropes on each side of the line that move together. Each cabin has four grips, two on each rope.

At Péclet in Val Thorens the ropes run 3.2 m apart. That gauge, rather than any extra rope, is what resists tilting in a side wind.

Doppelmayr gives its funitels a wind stability of about 100 km/h; Péclet is authorised to run up to 30 m/s, about 108 km/h. Boarding speed is about 0.3 m/s.

A related design, the DMC or double monocable, uses two ropes only about 80 cm apart.

How to ride it

  1. Skis off

  2. Board

  3. Ride standing

  4. Step out

  1. Take your skis off.
  2. Board the slow-moving cabin and put your skis in the racks.
  3. Ride standing; hold the rail.
  4. Step out at the top.

Where you’ll find it

Scandinavia

None recorded.

The Alps

A few exposed glacier and ridge lines, mainly in France, where the regulator counts six funitels and DMCs.

On PisteWindow

Lift types are recorded for 74 of 247 destinations so far.

History and notable examples

The first funitel, Péclet in Val Thorens, opened in 1990; some sources give 1991.

Compare with

3S gondola

Adds two fixed track ropes and a haul rope.

28–38 people · 6–8.5 m/s

Gondola

Hangs from one rope and swings more in wind.

4–10 people · 5–7 m/s

Aerial tramway

Shuttles one or two cabins.

6–200 people · 10–12.5 m/s

Compare with
AttributeFunitel3S gondolaGondolaAerial tramway
Per carrier20–33 people28–38 people4–10 people6–200 people
Line speed6–7 m/s6–8.5 m/s5–7 m/s10–12.5 m/s
People per hour3,000–4,000 people/hour1,500–6,000 people/hour2,000–4,500 people/hour500–2,000 people/hour
GripDetachableDetachableDetachableFixed
EnclosureEnclosedEnclosedEnclosedEnclosed
Skis onNoNoNoNo
Wind toleranceHighHighMediumNo published figure
Beginner-friendlyEasyEasyEasyEasy

Questions

Why is a funitel more stable in wind?

Its cabin hangs from two ropes about 3 m apart, which gives it a wide base, like standing with your feet apart.

Funitel or 3S: which is more wind-stable?

Both are among the most wind-stable cabin lifts; design values put the 3S slightly higher, at about 110 km/h.

Is a funitel a gondola?

Yes, a detachable gondola with two haul ropes instead of one.

Why is boarding so slow?

The cabins are big; slowing them to about 0.3 m/s gives everyone time to get in.

Names in other languages

Names in other languages
LanguageName
EnglishFunitel
DeutschFunitel
SvenskaFunitel
FrançaisFunitel
ItalianoFunitel
NederlandsFunitel
EspañolFunitel
DanskFunitel
Norsk bokmålFunitel

Sources

  1. Doppelmayr/Garaventa · Funitel brochure (FR, 09/2013) · Checked
  2. remontees-mecaniques.net · Les funitels et DMC: fonctionnement (page 1) · Checked
  3. remontees-mecaniques.net · Les funitels et DMC: fonctionnement (page 2) · Checked
  4. STRMTG (French cableway regulator, Ministry of Ecological Transition) · Rapport annuel 2024-2025 (parc au 01/01/2025, annexes 1, 4, 5) · Checked