Berlin (dpa/tmn) –
The gondola travels at lofty heights, the mountain panorama unfolds before your eyes – suddenly there is a jolt. The cabin shakes. Such a stop can be scary, but it is usually not dangerous.
Cable cars take winter sports enthusiasts, hikers and day-trippers up the mountain in a relaxed manner. However, some always get on with a queasy feeling, which often has to do with the height at which the gondolas are above the ground. If the journey then stops suddenly, it can frighten you.
In such a case, there is no reason to panic, the TÜV association reassures. Cable cars are generally very safe means of transport, and a stationary train is also a safe train. As a rule, she drives on moments later.
More serious problems that cause longer downtimes, such as a power failure or defects in the ropes, are very rare. And for these cases, the operators and the mountain rescue services are trained according to the Tüv Association. Evacuations would be practiced regularly.
Correct behavior in an emergency
In the unlikely event that you find yourself in such a situation, the following applies, as is so often the case: keep calm – even if it may be difficult. The rescuers will give instructions that it is important to follow. Under no circumstances should you try to free yourself from the gondola. The number of cable car accidents with injuries or even deaths is extremely low, according to the Tüv-Verband.
Interesting to know: According to the experts, cable cars are often affected by lightning strikes because of their exposed location. There is no danger for the people in the gondola – it acts like a Faraday cage, so that the lightning is deflected.
