Wiler-Weissenried Cable Car
Why a small cable car is playing an important role in the revitalization of the village of Blatten.
Shortly after the landslide, the canton explored the construction of a cable car as a possible solution. Its main purpose is to provide year-round access to the residential areas located behind the debris cone and, above all, to relieve the narrow, heavily used emergency road of additional passenger traffic heading into the upper Lötschental.
Since there will be no continuous pedestrian connection available in the valley floor for the foreseeable future, the aerial tramway will enable a safe and comfortable crossing of the debris cone and the Tennbach Gorge. It connects Weissenried directly to the Tenn area near Wiler and is available to both pedestrians and small-scale freight transport. The valley station is also accessible by PostBus.
A positive side effect is the cable car’s use for tourism. The landslide destroyed or rendered inaccessible cross-country ski trails, the ice rink, and, in particular, popular winter hiking trails. This significantly limited the range of tourist activities available in the upper Lötschental. The new cable car provides access to areas that will once again be easier to reach in the summer and accessible for the first time in the winter. In this way, it expands the range of recreational and tourism options while also contributing to the quality of life for the local population.
The Canton of Valais, as the project owner, has opted for a reversible cable car with a capacity of eight passengers per trip. This allows eight passengers to be transported in both directions approximately every eight minutes. A major advantage of this system is that it operates largely without the need for staff. Similar to a ski lift, users can use the cable car flexibly and as needed.
The valley station will be built in the Tenn area at the end of the Wiler industrial zone along Talstrasse. The cable car will run across the steep slope via two support towers to the eastern edge of Weissenried.
The cable car is scheduled to begin operations in December 2026. The exact operating procedures are currently being finalized.
