High Winds Caused a Multiple Gondola Pile-Up at Hochzillertal Ski Area, Austria

The Hochzillertal ski area near Kaltenbach, Austria was the scene of a spectacular incident on Sunday morning, when several cabins on the new “Wimbachexpresses” gondola collided and bunched like grapes around a tower. Nobody was injured reports the tt.com.

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Authorities and manufacturers representatives are investigating the cause, although it is believed that strong winds brought the gondolas out of step. But it was also the approaching storm that ensured that no one was harmed; the gondola was closed to the public due to the expected high winds.

The incident occurred around eleven o’clock and the Wimbachexpress was only in operation to drive the gondolas into the station. It appears a cabin may have been stuck on tower six and four more drove against it. The cable car spokeswoman emphasizes that “at no time was there danger to persons since the entire railway was already empty”.

The gondola lift only began operation this year. With ten-passenger cabins, the Wimbachexpress replaced the previous quad chairlift “Krössbichl”. The Wimbachexpress is designed to carry up to 2600 people per hour.