The Vanoise Express is a ski lift located in the Northern Alps, linking La Plagne and Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry. It was used to create Paradiski, one of the largest ski areas in the world.
Inaugurated in December 2003, this cable car is remarkable for both its technical features and its role in French and international skiing.
The idea behind the Vanoise Express was to create a fast, efficient link between two of France's biggest ski areas, La Plagne and Les Arcs, giving skiers easy access to over 425km of pistes.
One of the longest unsupported spans in the world
Its construction was an ambitious project, aimed at minimising environmental impact while offering unrivalled transport capacity and speed.
The Vanoise Express, manufactured by French ski lift company PomaIt can carry up to 200 people per cabin, with two cabins operating in parallel on independent cables.
It can cross the valley in around 4 minutes, covering a distance of 1.8 km without any intermediate pylons, making it one of the longest unsupported spans for a cable car in the world.
The lift links Peisey-Vallandry, at 1,250 m, and La Plagne, at 1,600 m, with a maximum height above ground of 380 m.
A state-of-the-art cable car
When it opened, the Vanoise Express was one of the fastest and most technologically advanced cable cars in the world.
Its unique design features double-decker cabins with large panoramic windows offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
The opening of the Vanoise Express has transformed the region's skiing landscape, making Paradiski one of the most popular ski areas in Europe.
It has facilitated smooth traffic flow between the two areas, greatly increasing the piste options for skiers of all abilities.
The Vanoise Express has boosted local tourism
It has also boosted tourism in the valley, contributing to the local economy thanks to an increase in the number of visitors, attracted by the ease of access and the variety of trails on offer.
Since its inauguration, the Vanoise Express has undergone several upgrades to improve the user experience and maintain the highest safety standards.
This includes adding modern features to the cabins and improving the environmental sustainability of operations.
The Vanoise Express symbolises innovation in the ski lift industry and continues to play a crucial role in the success of the La Plagne and Les Arcs ski areas, attracting skiers from all over the world keen to explore the Paradiski slopes.