Vanoise Express gondola
The Vanoise Express cable car, the main transport highway at the Paradiski ski area, that includes three ski resorts – Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne, situated in Savoie, France, was reopened for the new season today at 9:00 am after long lasted reconstruction.
The construction works lasted several months – 4 load-bearing cables were replaced with new ones. After this job done, the supervisory body of the Departmental Public Works Authority held two-week safety tests and officially approved the renowned cable car and gave permission to open it for the new season.
For the day of opening the ski lift operators SAP and SMA provide all persons having a valid ski pass for La Plagne or Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry with free ride throughout Paradiski using the reconstructed Vanoise Express, equipped with two double-decker gondolas that have panoramic glassing. Each gondola is able to move independently and can carry up to 2,000 people per hour in both ways. Now skiers can cross the valley between two mountain massifs in four minutes once again.
On top of that, during the opening days the guests are provided with a chance to have a trip round a special Paradiski circuit guided by French ski school instructors. There are several tours for various skill levels are available. The guests thus have better opportunity to discover ski area’s hotspots and places of interest.
Photo: Vanoise Express gondola (duckjock.blogspot.com)
Date: 20/12/2008
Ellen
Thanks for this report, I have been looking everywhere for confirmation that the Vanoise Express had opened before buying my lift pass!