Spring Semester 2020
Topic: Ropeway Terminal Mannheim Main Station
Draft: Robin Günther
Bachelor Thesis
The city of Mannheim is to receive an inner-city ropeway network to expand its public transport system. The terminal at the main train station will enable a smooth transition between the various means of transportation.
To cross the railroad tracks safely, the gondolas are raised to the required height in the station by a ropeless magnetic elevator.
The arriving gondolas are detached from the haul rope at the station, braked and lowered to ground level using the ropeless MULTI magnetic elevator system.
The shape of the building follows the inner function: The ropeway machinery as well as the entrance and exit areas are roofed, the translucent facade provides natural lighting during daytime. At night, the white facade elements transform into light sculptures.
The site is located at a central transportation hub, directly surrounded by bus and streetcar stops as well as the train platforms. Due to the dense development around Mannheim’s main station, the cable car terminal has to operate with a very small footprint.
The entrance area is fully open during operating hours and features ground-level, barrier-free access to the gondolas. The elevators in the concrete core provide maintenance technicians with access to the upper area of the terminal, as well as goods underground to the stores in the main station.
Several transport carriages circulate on the ropeless MULTI magnetic elevator system to lower the gondolas from a height of 25m to ground level or to move them up again.
There are 3 transport carriages in operation on each side (arrival/departure) to safely raise and lower the closely timed gondolas, which travel along the track at intervals of 25 seconds from each other.
Specifications
System: Doppelmayr 3S-Ropeway (Three-Cable Orbital Ropeway: 2 Suspension Ropes, 1 Haul Rope)
Speed: 8.5 m/s (19 mph)
Capacity: 10,000 People/Hour (5,000 People/Hour and Direction)
Cabin Size: 28-35 People (24 Seats)
Elevator: ThyssenKrupp MULTI (Ropeless Magnetic Elevator, Multidirectional)