Rax cable car: modernization for an unforgettable mountain experience!

Rax cable car: modernization for an unforgettable mountain experience!

The Rax cable car, considered Austria's first passenger cable car, has developed into an important destination for hikers and nature lovers in recent years. Every year, the cable car transports around 200,000 guests to an impressive height of 1,545 meters above sea level in less than eight minutes. With a new attractiveness concept under the name “Pioneers & Free Spirits”, the cable car was optimized in order to remain sustainable. The first phase of this project was successfully completed.

The innovations include the modernization of the valley and mountain stations, a new terrace with a breathtaking view and barrier-free usage options. The valley station was also expanded to include toilet facilities, a family room with changing facilities and a nursing area. Bernd Scharfegger, operator of the cable car, emphasizes the relevance of maintenance and investments in order to ensure the attractiveness of the cable car in the long term. The Rax cable car will be put back into operation on May 1st after an overhaul from April 22nd to 30th.

New experiences for visitors

New experience points that were created during the modernization include an impressive 140 sculpture, the “Infinity Gate” and the “Welcome Terrace”, which impresses with its information on the history of the region and the cable car. A special highlight are the ten couch elements, the “Sigmunds”, dedicated to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Numerous marked hiking trails with different levels of difficulty start from the Rax cable car mountain inn, so that both beginners and experienced hikers get their money's worth.

Hut hopping is very popular in summer. This activity takes place over five different routes, passing up to seven managed huts. The recommended route to Jakobskogel is particularly suitable for families and less experienced hikers, while the more demanding Rax crossing to Preiner Gscheid also represents a challenge for experienced hikers. In winter, travelers can explore the Rax Plateau with snowshoes, which can be rented from the mountain inn.

Arrival and accessibility

The Rax cable car can be easily reached by public transport from Vienna Central Station in around 1.5 hours. Optionally, visitors can take the ÖBB train to Payerbach-Reichenau and then use the regional bus 341 to the Hirschwang Raxseilbahn stop. For a nostalgic experience, rides on the Höllentalbahn and a vintage bus are also available on Sundays from June to October. A RUFbus Semmering-Rax also leads to the cable car, which makes getting there even easier.

Overall, the Rax cable car is more than just a means of transport; it plays a central role for the region and the local tourism industry. There are 253 cable car companies and a total of 1,116 cable car systems in Austria, which together make an important contribution to the tourism infrastructure. This not only ensures the recreational structure, but also strengthens the local economy, for which the cable car industry is considered a key driver of value creation.

Further information on current developments and offers from the Rax cable car can be found on the website of OTS, Wiener Alps and WKO. This not only creates a connection between tradition and modern technology, but also preserves the hiking paradise of Rax for future generations.