Crew conducts maintenance work at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Cape Town. (Jaco Marais/Gallo Images/Netwerk24)
- The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has reopened after seven weeks.
- The cableway was closed for extensive maintenance.
- On the first day of operations, at least 7 000 tickets were sold.
At least 7 000 tickets were sold for the reopening of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway on Monday.
The cableway has reopened after seven weeks of extensive maintenance work.
The opening coincides with the start of Tourism Month, with the revamped cableway expected to bolster tourism numbers in the province.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said: “Over a million tourists visit the cableway each year, and they have sold 7 000 tickets just for today. Last year, we broke all tourism records with tourists coming into the Western Cape.”
The cableway was closed for annual maintenance, which included replacing all four of the 1.5km-long track rope cable, which weighs 120 tonnes, and supports the Table Mountain cableway.
READ | Table Mountain cableway to close for seven weeks for maintenance work
Maintenance of the hanging and running gear was also carried out.
A TMACC upgrade in 1997 saw the introduction of this Swiss-made cableway system, boasting two rotating cable cars, each of which can carry 65 passengers.
The work was carried out with the support of a team of nine Swiss engineers.
This year’s annual maintenance was all about ensuring that every visitor’s experience “is nothing short of world-class”, said Selma Hercules, executive director of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.
“We’ve replaced the track ropes, overhauled the hanging and running gear, and adhered to strict Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to safety, quality, and excellence,” she said.
“Tourism Month is our chance to shine. We invite both locals and international visitors to rediscover the breathtaking beauty of Table Mountain and enjoy the best views in the city from our state-of-the-art cableway.”
