SYSTRA participates in the first energy-neutral urban cable car in Réunion

This is a new urban cable car project won by SYSTRA in France: following the one in Toulouse, which will enter service in 2022, and studies for the Orléans and Marseille lines, SYSTRA is part of the ZÈL La Montagne consortium commissioned by MND and selected by CINOR (Communauté Intercommunale du Nord de La Réunion) for the construction and operation of the La Montagne urban cable car in Saint-Denis. SYSTRA France is a co-contractor in the consortium alongside SBTPC Sogea Réunion (a subsidiary of Vinci Construction Outre-Mer), Atelier Architectes & Ingénierie, STEM International and Sodiparc.

This line on the outskirts of Saint-Denis de La Réunion will connect the Bellepierre district to the La Montagne plateau in just four minutes, transforming the daily lives of thousands of residents. It will provide an efficient and rapid alternative to cars, opening up the upper town while reducing noise, pollution and journey times.

SYSTRA France will be primarily responsible for regulatory safety procedures to obtain certification from the STRMTG (technical service for ski lifts and guided transport) and will provide its expertise on passenger traffic in stations.

The award of this major project once again demonstrates the relevance of cable cars in the development of efficient and environmentally friendly mobility, adapted to the specific characteristics of Réunion. As a new reference, it is in line with the cable car projects that SYSTRA is accompanying, both in France and internationally. I would like to congratulate all the bid teams for their commitment and collaborative spirit.

Julien Lambelet, Bid Manager, Urban Projects Department (DPU), SYSTRA France

The world’s first energy-neutral cable car

In addition to being an innovative new mode of transport, the ZÈL La Montagne line will be the world’s first 100% energy-neutral urban cable car, thanks to a power supply based on a Smart Grid network combining energy recovery during descents and photovoltaic installations on the rooves of stations and ancillary buildings.

The line will therefore produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year, which will also cover the needs of ancillary infrastructure (buildings, car parks, associated spaces), ensuring zero carbon emissions during operation.

SYSTRA urban cable cars on three continents

In addition to the Téléo cable car in Toulouse, SYSTRA designed the cable car in Orléans and was involved in the cable car project linking the Old Port to Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille.

Elsewhere in the world, our teams have supported numerous urban cable projects in Georgia, India, Colombia and, most recently, in the Middle East with projects in Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Projects are currently under consideration in Bordeaux and at Marseille-Provence Airport.