End of an Era: Grafenbergbahn Closes as Upgrades Planned for Wagrain
A familiar sight above Wagrain has officially retired. After more than four decades of operation, the Grafenbergbahn gondola completed its final day of service on 15 March 2026, marking the end of an important chapter for the Grafenberg and Wagrain area of Snow Space Salzburg.
Opened in 1985, the Grafenbergbahn served skiers and visitors for 41 years, carrying millions of passengers from Wagrain up to the Grafenberg plateau at around 1,700 metres above sea level.
For many returning visitors - including countless school ski groups visiting the region - the lift was the traditional gateway to the wide pistes and family terrain of the Grafenberg area.
The Original Grafenbergbahn
The lift was a 6-person gondola built by Swoboda, and while reliable for decades, its capacity was limited compared with modern installations.
Technical details of the original Grafenbergbahn:
🚡 Type: 6-person gondola
🏗 Year built: 1985
📏 Length: 3,026 metres
⛰ Vertical rise: 851 metres
🚀 Speed: 5 m/s
👥 Capacity: 1,732 people per hour
⏱ Journey time: around 11 minutes
With skier numbers growing across Snow Space Salzburg, the ageing lift increasingly became a bottleneck during peak weeks.
A New Grafenbergbahn Is Coming
Construction is now underway on a brand-new Grafenberg gondola, expected to open for the 2026/27 winter season.
The new lift will streamline access to the Grafenberg plateau by replacing three existing lifts:
Grafenbergbahn (1985 gondola)
Grafenberg Express I
Grafenberg Express II
Combining these lifts into one modern installation will improve transport capacity and simplify the route up the mountain.
Key Stats: The New Grafenberg Gondola
The replacement lift will be a 10-person gondola built by Doppelmayr, designed to dramatically increase capacity and efficiency. The gondola is planned to be ready and operational for the 2026/27 winter season.
Planned technical details include:
🚡 Type: 10-person gondola
🏗 Construction year: 2026 (ongoing)
📏 Length: 2,990 metres
⛰ Vertical rise: 853 metres
🚀 Speed: 6 m/s
👥 Capacity: up to 4,000 people per hour
⏱ Journey time: approximately 9 minutes
🔗 Mid-station with direct access to G-Link
The new lift will more than double the hourly capacity, helping reduce queues during busy weeks and improving overall access to the Grafenberg area.
What This Means for Skiers
Once complete, the new lift will significantly improve the flow of skiers across the Wagrain side of Snow Space Salzburg. Visitors will benefit from:
faster access to the Grafenberg plateau
shorter waiting times during peak weeks
modern gondola cabins with greater comfort
For school ski groups visiting the area the upgrade will make it easier to reach one of the most popular sectors of the mountain, and improve the link over the G-Link to Flachau and beyond.
Looking Ahead
While the original Grafenbergbahn will be missed by many locals and returning guests, the investment marks another step in the ongoing modernisation of Snow Space Salzburg.
The next generation of the Grafenberg lift is set to ensure that future visitors continue to enjoy quick, comfortable access to one of Wagrain’s most scenic and family-friendly ski areas.