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Les Deux Alpes has one of the most modern lift systems in Europe, regularly being the first to trial new technology in its quest to whisk more skiers up more mountains more efficiently.
One such innovation is the Dôme Express Funicular; construction started on this project in 1987 and lasted 2 years, 150 ton rotary diggers were used to shift 25000m³ of rock and ice. The funicular has the capacity to carry 1500 people per hour and accesses not only the ski area but also the ice caves and Croisière Blanche. As well as being the world's highest funicular, it is also one of the very few underground funiculars in existence. An elevator links it to the Jandri Express Gondola.
The Jandri Express holds the title of being the world’s fastest gondola and can get you from the bottom of resort to the summit of the glacier in just 24 minutes – not bad for a 7km journey that includes a cabin change at 2600m! The gondola climbs a total of 1500m and runs on two engines at either end of the cable – the top engine works at 1546 hp, while the bottom one works at 1366 hp. It can carry up to 1800 people per hour and each cabin holds up to 20 people standing up and carrying skis.
With the TSD des Glaciers Les Deux Alpes can boast one of the modern lifts of its generation. Built in 2001 this high speed chair lift stretches across the foot of the glacier from 2600m to 3200m. It runs on two cables that can be operated separately, depending on weather conditions. It carries up to 3500 people per hour and is often open in summer if the snow conditions are good.
There are a further 55 lifts servicing the 220km ski area, from the highest at 3600m to the lowest at 1300m. The lifts marked on the piste map using straight black lines are of four types; button tow/drag, chair, telecabine and telepherique. They have the corresponding abbreviations; TK for teleski (drag), TS for telesiege (chair), TC for telecabine (gondola) and TPH for telepherique (cable car). For telecabine think bubble car and for telepherique think cable car. Anything prefixed/suffixed with “Express” means a 6 person modern fast chair lift.
Most of the lifts are open during the summer as well as the winter, for the many walkers, mountain bikers, climbers and paragliders that come to see Les Deux Alpes in all its green glory! |
