How does it work?
First things first: what is a cable car?
In simple terms, it is a means of transport that involves aerial cables. It is similar to a chairlift or gondola, which are widespread in the world of skiing and ski lifts. It is not to be confused with a funicular railway, which is a type of cable transport… on rails!
In the case of the Namur cable car, it is more accurate to talk about a pulsed gondola, that is, a number of small cars that are arranged in a series and attached to a single cable. This cable, which both carries and tows the cars, rotates around two pulleys in a single direction. Its adjustable speed makes it possible to slow down in stations, which easily facilitates the simultaneous boarding and alighting of passengers in both of the stations: Esplanade and Centre-ville.
The system currently has two trains, each with three cars. Each car can accommodate six seated passengers. As a result, the current capacity is 18 passengers in each direction simultaneously. There are plans to add two identical trains, meaning six additional cars, in the future.