The project aims to create an effective link between the historic sectors of Verbier–Les Ruinettes and Savoleyres–La Tzoumaz, which have only been connected via the freeride Vallon d’Arbi route until now. The objective is to facilitate the better distribution of skiers across all our areas, while enabling them to keep their skis strapped to their feet.
Paying homage to the past while looking towards the future
Commissioned in 1970, the current Verbier–Savoleyres cable car is the last one designed by Giovanola that is still functioning in any country. It also holds the title of the oldest cable car still in operation in Switzerland. A true witness to a bygone era, it is a key part of Switzerland’s tourist and industrial heritage.
The system, designed in an emergency during the summer of 1950, has survived the decades, which is testament to the robustness and ingenuity of Giovanola clamps.
The new Télémixte lift is taking its place as its modern successor, designed for the generations of today and tomorrow. It will carry Verbier's alpine history into the future by combining comfort, performance and respect for the region, bringing this symbolic slope into a new era.
Technical aspects
| Technical specifications | Télémixte TSCD6-10 |
|---|---|
| Project owner | Téléverbier SA |
| Altitude difference | 220.35 m |
| Number of vehicles | A total of 59 cable cars (Les Esserts–Les Planards / Les Planards–Savoleyres) and 30 chairlifts are in service in the Les Planards–Savoleyres section |
| Travel Time | Esserts - Planards: 6.48 minutes Planards - Savoleyres: 5.29 minutes |
| Capacity | Esserts - Planards : 1,675 Planards - Savoleyres : 2,650 |
| Power | 248 W |
| Cable diameter | 50 mm |
| Altitude of the drive station | 1,722.72 m |
Location
The new Télémixte lift will connect three different stations:
- Bottom station (Les Esserts): 1,722 m
- Intermediate station (Les Planards): 1,943 m
- Top station (Savoleyres): also at 2,344 m
A two-segment route was decided on to address the area’s complex topographical configuration and offer a solution adapted to the realities of the terrain and the needs of different users.
A hybrid installation
What sets this lift apart from others is its innovative system combining 10-seater closed cable cars and 6-seater detachable chairlifts on the same line. The installation will extend over two sections:
- Section 1 (Les Esserts–Les Planards): reserved for cable cars only, this segment passes over an avalanche zone, guaranteeing safety, comfort and accessibility for pedestrians, families and skiers who are just starting out.
- Section 2 (Les Planards–Savoleyres): this is where the unique technology of the Télémixte lift becomes apparent, with cable cars and chairlifts following each other in succession to offer users a choice. The more experienced may opt for the chairlifts, allowing them to keep their skis on, while others may appreciate the warmth and calm of a cable car.
With nearly 60 cable cars and 30 chairlifts in operation, it will allow for capacity to be adapted to current needs: with the transport of up to 2,650 people per hour supported. This solution responds to requirements surrounding the management of current and future numbers of users in the area.
Design
Points system created by Doppelmayr/Garaventa
The technical heart of the Télémixte lift is located at the Les Planards intermediate station. Here, cable cars and chairlifts are sorted using a precise points system combining tyre conveyors and chains. This tried-and-tested technology, which has proven effective in Lech, Austria in particular, allows for the seamless separation of the vehicles in order to allow the two sections to be operated independently and safely. Designed by Doppelmayr/Garaventa, a leading manufacturer in the field of ski lifts, this system perfectly illustrates the ability of Verbier 4Vallées to adapt to the region’s topographical, as well as operational, challenges. Both robust and quiet, the installation ensures efficient rotations while facilitating a smooth ascent, without compromising on comfort or performance.
Smoother route
A total of 14 different options were examined before the final route was selected, with the configuration of the terrain, the inhabited surrounding areas, protected zones and natural risks making this a complex task. The final project positions the lower station below Route du Golf, in a wooded area, with a new piste, partly covered and passing through a tunnel, introduced to connect Le Carrefour and the Les Ruinettes sector to the start of the lift.
Arrangements are also being made to enable skiers to ski back to Verbier from Savoleyres by crossing Route du Golf via the Philippe Roux piste and using Route du Carrefour in particular.
Providing a connection in all four seasons
The lift will not only be used in winter. Thanks to its closed cable cars accessible on foot or by mountain bike, it will also offer easy access to Savoleyres during the summer. The cable cars are accessible step-free and provide a more pleasant solution for transporting mountain bikes, in addition to facilitating access for people with reduced mobility as well as families with prams.
Extensive measures to limit the impact of the construction site and ensure the harmonious integration of the lift into the landscape have been taken.
Commissioning phase
The Télémixte lift will open in two stages: the Les Planards–Savoleyres section will open in December 2025, while the full Les Esserts–Savoleyres section is scheduled to enter into service in December 2026.
May 2025
Work is progressing at a good pace along the entire route. At the Les Esserts lower station, excavations have progressed well and the first concrete foundations are being laid, with two separate access points planned for the future ski entrance. The amount of forest that has been cut down in preparation is indicative of the size of the future building, which will span several levels.
The first section, on steep terrain, has already seen the foundations for several pylons poured, with reinforced concrete structures ensuring their stability. The trench for the line has yet to be cleared.
In Les Planards, the intermediate station is taking shape: the foundations are emerging and the access road to Croix-de-Cœur has been moved to make space for the construction site. This will also be the site of the technical heart of the Télémixte lift.
For the second section, too, the foundations are advancing, though there are fewer strict requirements thanks to the more stable ground there.
Finally, in Savoleyres, the works are extensive: the arrival platform is undergoing a complete transformation. The existing wooden box will be replaced by a new platform suspended above the piste. There is still snow on the ground there, demonstrating the late arrival of spring.
Images
Installing the pylons
In September, the project reached an important milestone: installing the pylons. The installation was carried out by Doppelmayr/Garaventa, the ski lift manufacturer, in collaboration with external specialist teams. The project required the use of a Super Puma helicopter, provided by SAF Hélicoptères, which can transport loads of up to 2,800 kilos to altitudes over 2,300 metres, making it possible to erect the pylons in difficult-to-reach areas.
The next construction phase will involve unrolling the cable for the second section, followed by the mechanical assembly at Station 3, splicing the cable and installing the seats. These operations precede the lift’s technical tests, before the second section opens to the public on 19 December.
Images
