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Friday will make history in Zermatt: for 80 years people in the destination have dreamed of a direct cable car connection to Cervinia in Italy. Now those in charge can finally open the missing chapter from Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia. Highlights when visiting the site. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing is a superior project. Super high. It is very difficult to build. super expensive And with a super view. At least on a normal day.
The weather is not cooperating this Friday. At 3,821 meters above sea level at the Klein Matterhorn, Europe’s highest mountain station, heavy fog gathers before noon. But this cannot spoil the mood of the Asian guests on the platform. They pose in the snow, throw snowballs. Photographs can be taken with a snow angel. At the end of June there is still a dense snow cover here.
2.5 million overnight stays soon?
Since the Matterhorn is also shyly hiding behind the clouds these days, there is more time for the hard facts. The new connection should take the world to an even higher level. “We currently handle 2.2 million nights a year in Zermatt. “Our goal should be to reach 2.5 million,” says spa director Daniel Luggen (51) from Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia Blick. It will be repeated several times later that day says one sentence: “The project is a guide for Zermatt, Valais, Valle d’Aosta and the whole of Switzerland.”
At the official opening, the Testa Grigia valley station is bursting at the seams. Moderator Michelle Hunziker (46) is as charmingly moderate as ever and shines with her cable car patrons. This is how “It’s snowing, it’s raining” sums up the change in weather in his first words. Current site administrators can also sing a song about the harsh weather conditions at this altitude. Chairman of the Board, Franz Julen (64), duly honors what workers have achieved in recent years. One of the site administrators bursts into tears after a special tribute.
fears in the village
Along with CEO Markus Hasler (64), Julen is one of the key figures in the success of the mountain railways and thus the entire destination. The potential of the Klein Matterhorn as a touring railway was recognized many years ago. “The summer will reinvigorate our business,” he says.
Fears also exist in the town, which is responsible for a third of hotel stays in the entire canton of Valais. If you work in Zermatt, you will hardly find apartments there. And some of the industry fears the additional tourist crowds, who just want to see the Matterhorn fast and bring Zermatt a bit economically outside of the stress of greater density. “The new proposal should not encourage mass tourism,” emphasizes Julen.
200 million francs investment
Mountain railways emphasizes these words with its price policy. A commute from Zermatt to Cervinia will cost an impressive 240 CHF. Discounts apply to groups of 20 or more. “But exactly the same conditions apply to tour operators,” emphasizes Julen to Blick. Purpose is for individual travelers and small groups. For comparison: the trip to Jungfraujoch is 20 centimeters cheaper at CHF 238.80.
All in all: unlike Hohe Kasten, half fare card and valid in GA Zermatt. You get a hearty discount with either subscription. A return trip costs “only” 147.50 francs.
These prices are insane! In high season, the return trip from Zermatt VS to Cervinia in Italy costs 240 francs. One way trip costs 156 francs. “In a time when people are particularly price sensitive, there is a lot of talk about inflation, there is a family to feed, and energy prices are rising, it’s almost provocative to come up with such prices,” he says. Markus Hasler (64), CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen. However, these prices should be relative. With a half fare card or GA, the trip is 90 francs cheaper. So it costs just under 150 francs. In addition, the offer should be in accordance with the price structure of the destination. Like Zermatt as a whole, the new link is a premium product. It is cheaper in autumn (200 francs) and in winter (172 francs). At this price, guests stay on the road for approximately 1.5 hours on a one-way trip and can enjoy the views of the Matterhorn almost uninterrupted in fine weather.
These prices are insane! In high season, the return trip from Zermatt VS to Cervinia in Italy costs 240 francs. One way trip costs 156 francs. “In a time when people are particularly price sensitive, there is a lot of talk about inflation, there is a family to feed, and energy prices are rising, it’s almost provocative to come up with such prices,” he says. Markus Hasler (64), CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen. However, these prices should be relative. With a half fare card or GA, the trip is 90 francs cheaper. So it costs just under 150 francs. In addition, the offer should be in accordance with the price structure of the destination. Like Zermatt as a whole, the new link is a premium product. It is cheaper in autumn (200 francs) and in winter (172 francs). At this price, guests stay on the road for approximately 1.5 hours on a one-way trip and can enjoy the views of the Matterhorn almost uninterrupted in fine weather.
The first section from Trockener Steg to Klein Matterhorn opened in 2018. “Since then, the number of guests has almost doubled. Some days in the summer we count 3,000 visitors at the Klein Matterhorn,” says CEO Hasler. Railways expects the new proposal to add a few hundred more.
The numbers show how convinced the Bahn bosses are of the project: Zermatt Bergbahnen has invested 140 million Swiss francs for a direct link with Italy. Another 60 million will flow into a new mountain restaurant and expansion of summit infrastructure. “According to our calculations, the new rail should be amortized in 20 years,” Hasler says. And they didn’t even calculate with additional income in the winter business.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
