Behind the scenes at Table Mountain Aerial Cableway: Keeping the cable car at peak performance
One of the state-of-the-art cable cars. Photo courtesy Tiffany Turkington aka wooze66.
The Table Mountain cable cars are always ready and waiting to whisk its first batch of visitors to the top of Table Mountain in the morning, thanks to an efficient cleaning crew who give them a once-over as the sun comes up.
The cars are cleaned every day and minor repairs are carried out on an ongoing basis.
When the Cableway has a shutdown, the cars are given a thorough washing. During an annual two-week shutdown period in winter, overhauls and maintenance are carried out on the machinery and cables.
The maintenance team adheres to a strict protocol issued by Swiss cable car manufacturers, Garaventa. The protocol in turn follows the Swiss laws governing cableways.
The operations and maintenance of the cable car follows a laid-down weekly, monthly, half-yearly, three-monthly and annual programme to ensure that all aspects of the entire system are maintained at optimum operational levels.
Every six years the cabins and carriage gear are completely stripped down and all components are replaced with new parts.
The ropes are examined annually using an electro-mechanical test, similar to an X-ray, which detects broken wires or damage to the ropes.
Comments
I will be more than happy if you can link me to the Swiss manufacturer of your cableway please. Thank you.
When will the cable way be closed for maintenance during winter of 2010?
Hi Barbara
The Cableway will be closed for annual maintenance from 23 to 27 August (inclusive) and will reopen on 28 August if weather permits.
How much are the tickets for adults?
Hi Oscar
Adults pay R160 (return) or R85 (one way).
Find out about our special rates here: http://tablemountain.net/visitor_info/rates/
I would like to be contacted to manufacturers and installing companies of aerial cable way and send me their product catalogs if possible.
hey,I think this is the best cable car i ever ride.The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is a cableway to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. It is one of Cape Town’s most popular tourist attractions with approximately 800,000 people a year using the cableway.boat parts