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Construction Diary Always up to date on the new funicular in Hallstatt
Dismantling Progresses Calendar Week 38
On August 31, the old funicular made its final journey – an emotional moment for around 200 local residents, partners, and honored guests, but above all for those who were present at its construction 45 years ago. The highlight of the day was an impressive light show bidding farewell to a piece of Hallstatt’s history.
Already the following day, dismantling began: the gondolas were transported away, and with the help of a “Superpuma” helicopter, the first 40 meters of track were flown out from the mountain station. We thank the local residents for their patience, as the work may occasionally cause noise disturbances.
In the meantime, both the valley and mountain stations have been dismantled. At the valley station, construction of the new facilities is progressing rapidly, while at the mountain station preparations for rebuilding are already underway. At the same time, intensive work is being carried out on the foundations of the railway line.
Out of a total of 43 foundations, nine have currently been completed – an important step on the way to the new funicular.
A central project in these weeks is the construction of the “large material cableway.” To ensure its safe use, a massive concrete anchor with a volume of around 70 m³ is being built in front of the Salinen administration building. This installation is essential for the efficient transport of materials and construction components in the future.
For the entire project team, it is also a great relief that visitor operations are currently on hold. This allows construction work to proceed without additional strain. The daily shuttle service from Hallstatt to the Altaussee salt mine is being well received by tourists.
Finally, an urgent reminder: please respect the barriers around the construction site. Only in this way can we ensure accident-free operations – for the safety of everyone involved.
„Final Countdown“ Calendar Week 32
The Salt Mountain Railway will remain in operation until August 31 – after that, a new chapter begins.
The biggest challenge these days continues to be coordinating ongoing visitor operations with the construction work. Despite the busy summer season, progress is right on schedule. In mid-July, the old shop building was successfully dismantled. Within just two days, the Salzwelten team managed to completely clear out the sales area and set up a temporary shop in containers in the garden area of the valley station. At the same time, an additional shop was opened right on the Hallstatt marketplace to offer guests an attractive selection directly in the town center.
Intensive work is currently underway on the steep railway line to lay the foundations for the new funicular – a technical challenge even for experienced specialist companies. In the valley station area, significant progress is already visible:
The first foundations, as well as the new tension shaft – the section where the counterweight cable will be anchored in the future – have already been completed. Also finished are the new shop storage area, the building services room, the electrical engineering room, and the cooling cell. At the mountain station in the high valley, the machine room and the transformer room have been concreted.
A major milestone is just around the corner: On August 31, Salzwelten invites all employees of the site and local residents to the event "The Last Ride." As part of a ceremonial groundbreaking and a celebration on the company grounds, we want to say farewell together – and at the same time, thank all colleagues and neighbors for their patience so far, and ask for continued cooperation during the upcoming construction phase.
Because starting September 1, dismantling of the old Salt Mountain Railway will begin – a railway that has faithfully served us for over four decades.
Material Cable Car and Foundations Calendar Week 27
July brings significant progress to the construction site of the new funicular railway.
Currently, work on the foundations along the cable car route and at the site of the future mountain station in the Hallstatt high valley is in full swing.
To avoid relying solely on forest road transport, a dedicated material cable car has been installed, running parallel to the funicular line. Logistics are complex—especially when it comes to short-notice helicopter flights, which sometimes must be scheduled with only a few hours’ notice. This requires a high level of flexibility: the customer service team is meeting this challenge with great commitment, efficiently managing necessary rebookings.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all local residents for their understanding – and to our guests, who continue to show patience despite the construction-related restrictions and the many stairs in Hallstatt’s high valley, especially during the summer heat.
The next major step is scheduled for mid-July: the old shop at the valley station will be demolished. At the same time, preparations for two alternative locations are already underway. The first containers for a temporary shop in the garden of the administration building have been delivered. In addition, a retail space in the center of Hallstatt is being adapted and will open in mid-July as a fully operational replacement shop.
Bridge Transport by Helicopter in the Hallstatt High Valley Calendar Week 24
As part of the ongoing renovation work, a section of the panoramic bridge in the Hallstatt high valley had to be temporarily removed to make room for the construction crane. The second part of the bridge as well as the visitor lift will remain in place.
The bridge was originally built for the Upper Austrian Provincial Exhibition in 2008 and has a total weight of 3.9 tons. To transport it, Austria’s largest civilian transport helicopter, the “Super Puma,” was required.
After two days of intensive preparation—including the removal of railings and floor panels to reduce weight—the time had come on June 4: before the Salzbergbahn began operating at 9:00 a.m., the bridge structure was flown out of the high valley by helicopter and temporarily stored in the Hallstatt Echerntal.
Once construction is completed and the new Salzbergbahn begins operation in June 2026, the panoramic bridge will again be accessible to visitors of the Salzwelten.
During the construction phase, an alternative route to the Rudolfsturm has been created: temporary stairways continue to allow access. However, visitors should be in good physical condition—around 800 steps (round trip) must be managed.
Kickoff for the New Funicular in Hallstatt Calendar Week 20
On April 22, construction work officially began on the new funicular in Hallstatt. The first step involved dismantling the existing waiting hall, the ticket office at the valley station, and the old mountain station. Additionally, a new stairway system was built in the high valley to better guide the flow of visitors.
Special attention was given to safety: to protect guests during the construction phase, a wooden overhead structure was installed at the valley station to shield against potential hazards. The recent holidays, which saw up to 2,000 visitors per day, further tested the staff and organizational logistics.
The limited space in Hallstatt requires careful coordination. Ongoing operations at the Salzwelten and the salt mine must be synchronized with the construction measures. Close cooperation among all parties – from construction management to Salzwelten staff and mine operators – has proven effective in practice. Regular coordination meetings help to quickly identify and respond to challenges.
All measures are currently proceeding according to plan. Since the construction takes place in an archaeologically sensitive area, experts are closely monitoring the process. While findings from the Hallstatt period are expected in the high valley, relics from the Roman era may emerge at the valley station.
At the same time as construction began, a time-lapse camera was installed. It documents the progress every 15 minutes. Interested visitors can regularly check the Salzwelten website for the latest updates – including images and reports directly from the construction site.
