Paris is set to launch a $145 million cable car project | Dinogo

Paris, already home to some of the world's most iconic attractions, may soon welcome its first-ever urban cable car system.

Plans for a new 4.5-kilometer aerial tramway connecting various southeast suburbs to the Paris Metro are moving forward, with construction set to begin this year.

The 'Cable 1' project, expected to open in 2025, will transport passengers from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges to Pointe du Lac station in Creteil, cutting the travel time to just 17 minutes—half the duration of a bus ride.

New renderings of the cable car line, designed by Atelier Schall architecture studio, offer a closer look at the eagerly awaited project, which has recently passed all pre-construction feasibility studies.

Paris connection

While cities like Brest and Grenoble in France already have similar cable car systems, Cable 1 would be Paris' first, if approved. Several other aerial tramway projects are also in various stages of planning.

Originally proposed in 2008, Cable 1 was seen as essential due to the hilly landscape of Creteil, which also features a high-speed train line and a motorway, making other above-ground transport solutions less feasible.

To construct the system, 33 white pylons, designed to seamlessly blend into the landscape, will be installed throughout the suburbs.

"In 2016, the Île-de-France region and the Department of Val-de-Marne decided to introduce an innovative new public transport solution, offering the first urban cable car line in the region," says Laurent Probst, general director of IDF Mobilités.

Easily accessible

"The outstanding proposal from the team led by Doppelmayr France will allow over 11,000 people each day to save significant time, enjoy greater comfort, and perhaps even experience a little mountain-inspired dream," says the group.

Cable 1 will feature five stops: Temps Durables and Emile Combes in Limeil-Brévannes, Emile Zola in Valenton, Bois Matar in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and the final stop at Pointe du Lac in Créteil, conveniently located near metro line 8.

Each station will be a single story high to ensure the system is fully accessible to all passengers.

Paris isn't the only European city adopting a cable car system. Last year, Amsterdam approved a 1.5-kilometer cable car that will cross the IJ river, linking Amsterdam-West and Amsterdam-Noord, with operations set to begin in 2025.

In London, the cable car across the Thames has faced challenges in attracting regular passengers since its 2012 opening. It has managed to stay afloat financially thanks to a profitable sponsorship deal, which is soon set to expire.

Top image credit: Courtesy of Île-de-France Mobilités