History

he history is taken from the book „Naters – Das grosse Dorf im Wallis“ by Dr. Erwin Jossen and current events have been added by the Belalp Bahnen AG.

The first cable car Blatten - Belalp

Construction and development of the cable car Blatten-Belalp

The cable car prevails

After the Second World War many holiday homes were built in Blatten. A second hotel and many companies were opened. Blatten was turned into a health resort. Inspired by other mountain villages, the people in Naters looked for a better means of transport from Blatten to the Belalp. The question was: by road or by cable car?

To quote the minutes of the council meeting that took place on the 05 May 1946: «( ... ), a cable car Blatten - Belalp is a necessity for the village's further development and should be put into action soon, if we do not want to be too late. A road would go much to high, whereas a cable car would bring in revenue and would be worth it.»

In the same town meeting it was proposed «that the town council should put together a committee, consisting of the town council, the members of parliament, one representative for each hotel, the two skiing clubs and the petitioner [Municipal Secretary Franz Werner], to study the case and to propose ideas at the town meeting as soon as possible. The Mayor, Meinrad Michlig accepts the proposal». Subsequently the planning of an “iron cable car construction that would cost 230'000 francs” by engineer Hunziker seemed to precede quite quickly. The local council wanted to speed up the project, “so that the cable car is ready for the next summer [1947]”. One month later, on the 28 October 1946, the local council's report notes that the engineer Mr. Hunziker would soon present a project and the delivery deadline. The records about a possible cable car end here. It seems that the project was not mentioned again for the time being. The financial situation at the time made the construction impossible. Furthermore the development of the road from Naters to Blatten was more important than the construction of the cable car to the Belalp.

 

The upper terminus, the second cabin is being added -1979

 

After a 6 year break a Mr. Walter Birkhäuser from Blumenstein/BE promoted the  cable car idea. He wanted the village's involvement. The town council asked for more information and brought up the idea for a cable car as well as the idea to build a road at the council meeting on the 27 April 1952. The town council argued the case for the cable car, because the construction would cost around 200'000 to 750'000 francs whereas the road construction would cost 800'000 francs (with 25% subsidies). The exact decision made by the council meeting is not found in the reports. After looking at the further developments we can safely say that the town meeting voted in favour of the construction of the cable car.

The old upper terminus, view from the West

Cable car construction

On the 26 October 1952 there was a meeting in the restaurant Post in Naters, for all people interested in the project. A committee was put together, consisting of the following people:

• Anton Salzmann, former presiding judge, chairman
• Alois Gertschen, governor
• Meinrad Michlig, mayor
• Pius Werner, vice president
• Adolf Augsburger senior, merchant
• Arthur Klingele, hotelier
• Walter Jaeger, land register administrator
• Anton Volken, businessman
• Otto Zenklusen, businessman

The committee went straight to work, they inspected the existing construction, examined the ground conditions and founded a corporation with 250'000 francs capital. The town council was represented in the committee and that is also the reason way the construction was mentioned in nearly every council meeting. The village's contribution of 50'000 francs was agreed in the town meeting on the 26 April 1953.

The old upper terminus, view from the East

 

At last the construction could begin. In the plans made by the engineer A. Schönholzer from
Spiez, and the architects Walter Feliser from Brig and Paul Sprung from Naters, the position was chosen, so that tourists would be able to see the magnificent view along the way. It also had the advantage, that the cable car did not cross any major gorges, so the cabins would not have to be high of the ground.

In the autumn of 1953 the shells of the upper and lower terminals were completed.
Mostly regional material were used. Local businesses were employed as much as possible. The firm Willy Habegger, an engineering works based in Thun, delivered the engineering equipment. In the lower terminus there was a post office and on the east side a buffet-restaurant was built on.

The costs for the cable car were as follows:

• Buildings and facilities Fr. 219'628.88
• Engineering equipment Fr. 285'000.--
• Furnshings Fr. 10'200.80
• Land Fr. 5'621.90
• Total costs 520'451.58

 

On the 24th of July 1954 the Federal Department of Transport issued a provisional cable car authorization for the St. Jakobsfest on the 25th of July. Vicar Alois Walker, who held a mass on the Belalp, recorded the following in his notes: «On the 25th of July, on St. Jakobsday, the new cable car operated for the first time and has since attracted many tourists. The advantages and disadvantages do not have to be mentioned»
On the 18th/20th of August 1954 the final authorization was issued by the Federal Department of Transport. On the following day, the 21st of August 1954 the cable car officially came into operation. The blessing was given on the 18th of June 1955 by vicar Alois Walker.

Exit ski tunnel Hohstock - 1984

Development of the cable car

The locals immediately appreciated the cable car as an important means of transport by the locals straight away.
It turned the Belalp into a tourist attraction, but many saw this as an unwanted side effect. Now not just one or two tourists were found on the Belalp but crowds of them and it was thought to be a disturbance. But there was also people who saw the change as an opportunity for the future. And the number of supporters grew from day to day.

Until the year 1957/1958 the cable car was only operated during the Summer, so the "Bergfreund" skiing club requested that the cable car also be operated during the winter months.
Up to the 1970s it was a relatively quiet time for the cable car.

Assessment by Jost Krippendorf

Those responsible for the cable car company ("Seilbahnen AG") asked the Swiss tourist association (SFV) for an assessment of the project. On the 22 March 1971 Dr. Jost Krippendorf from the SFV in Bern presented his assessment. From then on the assessment was used as a guideline for further planning.
Here are a few of Krippendorf's findings:

1. The development status at the moment is modest. Accommodation-wise there
are 350 beds in hotels and dormitories in Blatten and on the Belalp and around 120 chalets.
This adds up to around 1'000 beds available in Blatten and on the Belalp. The range of
accommodation, especially in Blatten, has to be widened, spa facilities should be thought of
and transportation must be expanded.

2. The demand for winter sports is growing in all countries. «The development potential and
opportunities for Blatten-Belalp are excellent.»

3. Topography, landscape and climate as a tourist attraction as well as the accessibility are the foundations of the tourism industry. The following assessment can be made for Blatten Belalp:

a) The altitude (Blatten 1'322 m.a.s.l., Belalp 2'080 m.a.s.l., ski-region up to 3'300 m.a.s.l.) is especially positive for winter sports. There should be enough snow during the winter. The ski resort Belalp is suitable for all levels of skiers.

b) Situated at the head of the valley, people are sheltered from the wind and there is not a lot
of traffic.

c) South-facing, with a great view across the valley and mountains, as well as the Aletsch-
Glacier.

d) Access: it takes 15 minutes to get from Blatten to the main station in Brig, which offers great train connections. You can also get to Blatten by car. Several big cities are only two or three hours away (Milan, the West and North of Switzerland).
Because Blatten is so easy to get to, a lot of locals spend their free time there.

4. The fact that the town of Naters agreed to the development of Blatten-Belalp was an important factor.
The special building regulations protect the old part of the village and prevent the landscape from being spoilt.

5. The authorities and the population are all for the developments in Blatten-Belalp. The town is willing to support any further projects concerning Blatten-Belalp. The original families "Burgergemeinde" as the biggest landowners grant building rights and rights of way.

Stages of development: 1972‐1992

Around 1970 requests for alterations to the cable car and for the construction of ski lifts grew. In 1972 the cable car station was converted and the cabins were replaced by bigger ones. The renovated cable car was inaugurated on the 08 February 1973. The first development stage 1971/1972 brought changes that no one had thought of. The number of overnight stays as well as the revenue of the cable car and ski lifts nearly doubled.
In comparison to the year before the number of people transported went up by 113% and the traffic revenue went up by 120%.

In 1979 another alteration was made to the cable car. A second cabin was added. This cost 2,4 million francs. The requirements for a second cabin were luckily already met in 1972.
On the 22nd of December 1979 the presidents of the Board of directors Edmund Salzmann met a cheerful crowd at the blessing of the second cabin. The cabin was blessed by vicar Josef Pfaffen.

On the 19th of December 1980 the middle terminal Erich was opened for the holiday village «Tschuggen».

In 1991 a depot and a parking garage was built in Blatten as well as a first aid room at Hohbiel.

In 1992 the office building was built in Blatten as well as a depot at the middle and upper terminus (together around 700 000 francs).

Technical details

The topographical data for the cable car are the same today as they were in 1954: lower terminus 1'336.75
m.a.s.l., upper terminus 2'096 m.a.s.l, difference in altitude 763 m, length of the cableway 1767 m, horizontal length 1593 m, two cabins and two supports.

Additional technical details 1954 – 1979 (today)

• Transport capacity per cabin 10 pers. 80 +1 pers.
• Transport capacity per hour 65 Pers. 800 Pers.
• Speed (Top) 4,0 m/sec. 8,5/7 m/sec.
• Travel time (without stop in Erich) 8-9 min. ca. 5 min.
• Cargo load 800 kg 6000 kg
• Maximal driving power 63 PS 790 PS
• Support cable (per section 2), Æ 30 mm 45 mm
• Drive cable (per section 1), Æ 19 mm 31 mm

From the "Seilbahnen AG Blatten –Belalp-Aletsch" to the “Belalp Bahnen AG”

Founding and development: 1953 - 1995

The cable car company "Seilbahnen Blatten-Belalp AG" was founded in 1953 and for many years the members of the board of directors stayed the same. They were the same people who founded the committee for the construction of the cable car in 1952.
However there was another active organisation, the Ski Lift Cooperative.
On the 6th of February 1960 the formation meeting of the Ski Lift Cooperative took place in the guesthouse Blatten. The president of the board of directors was Ignaz Mutter. On the 08 October 1960 the general assembly decided to change the Ski Lift Cooperative into a corporation and to found a cooperative with the ski lift Belalp. In November 1961 Meinrad Michlig was voted president of the new ski lift company “Skilift Blatten-Belalp AG”. In cooperation with the cable car company "Seilbahnen Blatten-Belalp AG" and the town of Naters the first ski lift was built on the Belalp (Kühmatte) in 1963. In 1965 the Skilift AG elected a new Board of directors and Alois Jossen as new president. After countless talks the cable car company "Seilbahnen Blatten-Belalp AG" and the ski lift company"Skilift Blatten-Belalp AG" merged on the 10 July 1970. The new corporation was named "Seilbahnen AG Blatten-Belalp-Aletsch".

Cable car: Number of passengers

Year	Summer	Winter	Total	Cable car	Goods and luggage	Ski lifts	Total
1968	42'582	19'975	62'557
1970	45'082	24'517	69'599
1975	69'468	111'596	181'064	488'322	23'904	519'823	1'032'048
1980	89'696	174'381	264'077	695'652	48'515	902'176	1'646'343
1985	96'993	256'096	353'089	1'021'599	65'755	1'845'544	2'932'898
1990	110'473	326'762	437'235	1'703'095	98'786	1'902'135	3'704'016
1995	100'897	366'036	466'953	2'545'016	184'017	3'018'819	5'747'852
2000	93'140	367'750	460'890	2'400'365	276'705	3'222'670	5'899'741
2003	83'342	362'237	445'579	2'534'493	225'272	3'279'277	6'039'042

 

 

 

According to the merger agreement of the 10th of July 1970, the previous corporation "Luftseilbahnen Blatten-Belalp AG" took over all the assets and liabilities of the "Skilift Blatten-Belalp AG". The new corporation's capital stock was increased up to 3,8 million francs (7600 bearer shares at 500 francs) in 1970 .
 

The cable car in Blatten with the old terminus building, 1973-1979
 

The goal of the new corporation is described in article 2 of the statutes (03 March 1971): «The objective of the corporation is the construction and operation of cable cars in the Blatten-Belalp-Aletsch region and the promotion of the social and economical development as well as tourism.»

The expansion of the skiing region Belalp
The Sparrhorn and Hohstock

The "Skilift Blatten-Belalp AG" operated one ski lift in Blatten and one ski lift on the Belalp, from Kühmatte up to Schönbiel. With 2 lifts and limited slope capacity the skiing region was modest. That all changed in 1972 when the cable car and the ski lift Sparrhorn was built,
making the skiing region larger. At the same time the old ski lift Schönbiel was replaced by a new one. The modern new lifts and the attractive skiing region attracted many new visitors. As mentioned above a second cabin was added to the cable car in 1979. The transport capacity was also augmented by the construction of the new ski lift Schönbiel and
Sparrhorngrat.

Hohstocklift - at 3100 m.a.s.l. - 1983

The floating mast - Hohstocklift

Another milestone was achieved in 1983, when the ski lift Hohstock ran for the first time. The tunnel Hohstock was built in 1984 and enabled more pistes to be used. In the following years more ski lifts were built: 1986 the Fleschtolalift, 1989 the Staffellift and 1995 the Färrichlift. The last development stage followed in 1997. The chairlifts Kelchbach and Bruchegg were constructed and the snow cannons were established at Schönbiel. Travelling comfort and safety have been improved.

Development plans  - 1970

Outline of the current transport system

The tourist transport systems that connect Blatten with the ski and holiday resort Belalp are listed in the following spreadsheet.

Cable car Blatten-Belalp
 

The transport system makes the Belalp skiing region, that stretches from 3'100 m.a.s.l. at the Hohstock down to 1'320 m.a.s.l in Blatten, accessible to everybody. The Belalp offers long and wide slopes for every skiing level. During high season there are 60 km of pistes. From the total 60 km, 12 km are blue, 23 km are red and 25 km are black pistes. There is a snow cannon installed at Schönbiel that enables us to cover the lower part of the pistes with enough snow. Excluding the road down to Blatten, the snow cannon generates enough snow for 6 km of pistes. That is 12 % of our total pistes.

Touristische Transportanlagen der Belalp Bahnen AG (2002)

Transport systems	Construction year	Length	Difference in altitude	Capacity
Cable car Blatten-Belalp	1954 1972/79	1'767 m	763 m	800 ppl.
Ski lift Schönbiel	1979	1'100 m	236 m	1'000 ppl.
Ski lift Sparrhorn	1972	2'400 m	529 m	1'000 ppl.
Skil ift Sparrhorngrat	1979	900 m	211 m	1'000 ppl.
Ski lift Hohstock	1982	1'520 m	450 m	1'000 ppl.
Pony lift I + II		100 m	20 m	500 ppl.
Ski lift Stafel	1989	224 m	16 m	1'000 ppl.
Ski lift  Fleschtola	1986	1'950 m	429 m	1'000 ppl.
Ski lift Lüsga/Färrich	1995	277 m	91 m	600 ppl.
Chairlift Kelchbach	1997	1201 m	252 m	2000 ppl.
Chairlift Bruchji	1997	595 m	160 m	1'000 ppl.
Total	11	12'034 m	3'157 m	10'900 ppl.

 

 

 

 

The diversification – the purchase and renovation of the Hotel Blattnerhof

In 1987 the Belalp Bahnen AG bought the Hotel Blattnerhof. The total renovation of the
hotel (1993) was an upgrading for the region’s hotel range. For the Belalp Bahnen it was an extension of funding outside the transport business.

1996: New name, new bylaws

At the general assembly on the 20 June 1996 the shareholders agreed to new bylaws.
The most important change was the renaming. "Seilbahnen AG Blatten-Belalp-Aletsch" was changed to "Belalp Bahnen AG".
According to the new bylaws, the town and the original families ("Burgschaft") are entitled to a board of directors seat. It was also agreed that the time in office would be limited to 12 years for the members of the board of directors and to 16 years for the president. And finally, from then on the president of the Board of directors had to be elected by the General Assembly. Because up until then the president had always been elected by the Board of directors.
The company's organisation: 1. Shareholders, 2. Board of directors (5 - 9 members) and 3.
Auditors.

The Belalp Bahnen AG's presidents of the board of directors

• Anton Salzmann, former presiding judge
• 1959-1968 Meinrad Michlig
• 1968-1970 vacant
• Edmund Salzmann
• 1988-1994 Richard Walker
• 1994-1998 Peter Ritz
• 1998- 2007 Erich Pfaffen
• 2007- ... Klaus Zurschmitten

Directors of the Belalp Bahnen AG

Ignaz Truffer: 1973 - 1998

Ignaz Truffer was the Belalp Bahnen AG's first director (1973 - 1998) and was a part of the tourist office's council for 20 years. He influenced the development of tourism in the area and was a reliable and competent company director. He was passionate about the tourism industry. From 1992 to 1998 he was the president of the Valais association for cable car and ski lift companies. He died on the 30 June 1998.

The first ski lift up to Schönbiel

Dr.Hans‐Peter Zeiter: 1998 - 2004

Dr. Hans-Peter Zeiter was made company director of the Belalp Bahnen AG on the 15 October 1998. During the last 6 years he lead the Belalp Bahnen with great professional competence and prudence through difficult financial conditions. He was committed to the improvement of tourism in the region.

In 2004 Stefan Jossen took over as chairman of the executive board and is both the company director and technical manager. Mr. Gilbert Schmid is the financial manager.

The shareholders

The capital stock of the Belalp Bahnen AG has been 5,1 mio. francs since 1979 (10'200 shares at 500 francs). The shares were issued in the form of bearer shares. Blocks of shares are held by the town Naters and the "Burgerschaft" Naters. Together they hold 20% of the capital stock. The other shares are widely spread between local people, businesses and chalet owners.

Key figures

Up to the 31 December 2003 the Belalp Bahnen had invested over 52 mio. francs. On the same date the asset value of the facilities amounted to 20,2 mio francs. This corresponds to 39,3 % of the acquisition value. During the operating year 2003 the total yield was 6,0 mio. francs. The businesses cash-flow was increased from 5,5 % to 24,4 % of the total yield. Due to the constant debt repayment during the last years the owner's equity could be increased from 18.5% to 25,9 %.

Schönbiel -The upper terminus of the chairlifts Kelchbach and Bruchegg