10 places in NZ where an aerial cable car makes sense

A new report by Doppelmayr New Zealand reveals that in our busiest cities, urban cable car solutions could shave 30 minutes off a commuter’s travel time and reduce congestion as they have done overseas

Doppelmayr New Zealand has taken the next step in its ambition to enter New Zealand’s public transport market through the release of its Urban Transport Solutions Report, which makes the case for urban cable car solutions in Aotearoa.

The Report shares the findings of an independent strategic level analysis by transport planning and engineering specialists Abley, which identified 20 locations around the country where there is a case for an urban aerial cable car. Doppelmayr New Zealand intends to pursue a shortlist of 10 sites across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown – with its sights set on Auckland and Wellington in the short term.

Scheme	Route	Strategic value
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
Airport to Botany	Airport – Puhinui Railway Station – Manukau CBD – Botany	Rapid Transit network, alternative to Bus Rapid Transit 15 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 2000 passengers per hour, per direction
Airport to Onehunga	Airport – Mangere Town Centre – Mangere Bridge – Onehunga	Alternative to Light Rail: Airport – Onehunga section 18 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 3000 passengers per hour, per direction
Te Atatū to Henderson, via Busway	Te Atatū – Northwestern Busway – Henderson	Connect to proposed Northwestern Busway 25 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 1000 passengers per her
Te Whanganui a Tara / Wellington
Airport to CBD	Airport – CBD – Wellington Railway Station	Alternative to Bus Rapid Transit 14 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 2000 passengers per hour, per direction
Island Bay to CBD	Island Bay – Newton – Wellington Hospital – CBD – Wellington Railway Station	Alternative to Light Rail Transit 22 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 3000 passengers per hour
Karori to CBD	West Karori – East Karori – CBD	Additional capacity for constrained corridor 25 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 2000 passengers per hour, per direction
Wainuiomata to Hutt Valley	Wainuiomata – Waterloo Rail – Hutt Town Centre	Direct connection across physical barrier 29 minutes faster than current bus network Carry up to 1000 passengers per hour, per direction

The other shortlisted sites are a Queenstown Airport to Town Centre route, and two routes from Christchurch CBD – one to the Airport and another to Belfast.

Doppelmayr New Zealand CEO Garreth Hayman says the business is focusing on Auckland and Wellington due to the proven potential for aerial cable cars to address key transport challenges and provide urban development opportunities in both cities.

“Doppelmayr’s experience is that aerial cable car systems offer a range of benefits to urban environments under pressure from growth and increasing vehicle congestion, and while cities endeavour to meet ambitious climate targets. We have done extensive research with local experts to assess the feasibility of integrating aerial cable cars into New Zealand’s major cities.

“The sites we are looking at across Auckland and Wellington will save passengers up to 29 minutes’ travel time in comparison to the existing public transport systems. We know these solutions work because we have seen them in action in large international cities – where they complement existing transport networks and are incorporated into existing buildings, underground stations, airports and housing developments,” says Hayman.

Three of the transport links Doppelmayr intends to pursue would connect the Auckland and Wellington airports with suburbs that do not have a strong existing public transport solution, says Hayman.

“Mobility in and around many airports across the world are facilitated by a Doppelmayr cable car, such as the recently installed Luton airport DART in the United Kingdom. The solutions proposed for New Zealand would reduce congestion and pressure on the existing transport networks, with capacity to transport up to 6000 people per hour between main transport links and suburbs.”

Doppelmayr New Zealand will partner with the appropriate planning and transport agencies to progress the investigation of these opportunities. The business is also seeking private/public financing or equity agreements to facilitate the implementation of New Zealand’s first aerial cable car.

“Worldclass cities require worldclass infrastructure and innovative, effective transport solutions. As part of an integrated network, aerial cable cars provide new possibilities by making use of the currently unused aerial level – one that is not hindered by other modes of transport. We are motivated by the opportunity to introduce public transport solutions in New Zealand that will complement, extend and fully integrate with existing train, bus and ferry services, as we have successfully done around the world,” says Hayman.

Key findings from the Doppelmayr Abley study include:

• Aerial cable cars can address several of the key transport challenges facing New Zealand cities, including congestion, air and noise emissions as well as severance between our communities and the places we work, live and enjoy
• Fundamentally, the aerial cable car offers a reliable, efficient and low emission transport mode, addressing regional and urban congestion and enhancing connections between communities.  Doppelmayr cable car systems can transport up to 8000 passengers per hour
• There are no significant planning or consenting impediments to the introduction of an aerial cable car system for public transport purposes in New Zealand
• Unlike the significant disruption and related network impacts when installing heavy solutions such as with rail-based systems, cable cars can be installed with a minimum of disruption and in a shorter period. In comparison to other on-road means of transport, the overall advantages of aerial cable cars are significant.