Hörnle suspension railway: start of renovation - last trip on November 2nd!

Hörnle suspension railway: start of renovation - last trip on November 2nd!

The popular Hörnle suspension railway in Bad Kohlgrub will be taking a forced break for several months after November 2, 2025. In a moving moment, as managing director Frank Peters describes, this operational interruption is the first in the 70-year history of the mountain railway. The reason for this measure is the comprehensive general renovation that is necessary to ensure safety for passengers and employees. Mercury reports that the extensive work is being carried out at both the mountain station and the valley station.

The focus is particularly on the new building at the mountain station, which is intended to create space for service rooms, workshops and storage. From November 17, 2025, the existing building will be demolished, while construction work is expected to begin in the third week of February 2026, depending on the weather. At the same time, the supports and foundations of the cable car route are being renovated. There is already progress at the valley station, where a new four-room wooden building has been constructed, while remaining work still remains.

What can passengers expect?

The operators have come up with something special for the last trip before the renovation: On November 2nd, 2025, all passengers will receive a voucher worth 9.50 euros for the daily special at the Hörnlehütte when they buy a ticket. Completion of the renovation is planned for the end of May 2026, with the Hörnlebahn scheduled to be put back into operation on May 30, 2026. The total costs of the renovation amount to around 2.5 million euros.

The Hörnle suspension railway, which is considered a cult object due to its unique technology and impressive 360° panoramic view, offers numerous leisure opportunities. It is not only a popular starting point for easy to moderately difficult hikes in the Ammergau Alps Nature Park, but is also very popular in winter as a natural snow area with ski areas, toboggan runs and snowshoe hikes. Getting there is also extremely easy from the surrounding cities such as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich or Füssen.

The challenges of Alpine tourism

But in the background there are also challenges that are exacerbated by climate change. Loud Imticker The increase in the average temperature in the Alpine region leads to a thawing of the permafrost, which could significantly endanger the statics of cable cars. Such climate-related extreme temperatures pose new challenges for the maintenance and inspection of the systems and could endanger trust in the mountain railways.

This makes the upcoming renovation of the Hörnle suspension railway all the more important, which will not only improve safety, but also strengthen the ability to adapt to future climatic challenges in the Alps. The fate of Alpine tourism depends heavily on measures like these to not only protect existing tourist facilities, but also to secure jobs and income in the affected communities.

The Hörnlebahn, which began operations in 1954, is facing a new era of safety and renewal. Until the reopening in May 2026, the anticipation of a nostalgic experience remains high for visitors and locals alike.