Brunch With A View

We met Gaby and Felix at the bus by the Interlaken West train station and took bus 101 up to Beatenberg station.

We went up to the Niederhorn for their Sunday Brunch. We journeyed on the modern pulsed movement gondola up to the summit of the Niederhorn. The ascent is both magical and imposing, because the journey time of just under 10 minutes gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the surrounding mountains and lakes. You get to see the majestic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau from the best possible angle – the perfect backdrop for a souvenir photo of your mountain trip.

"The Seilbahnen Beatenberg-Niederhorn is a pulsed movement gondola. It links the village of Beatenberg with the summit of the Niederhorn. At Beatenberg, the lift connects with the Thunersee–Beatenberg Bahn, a funicular which links with the shipping services on Lake Thun.

The lift, opened in 1997, replaces an earlier aerial cable car on a similar route that was completed in 1946. The line operates four groups of three cabins, which are moved by an endless cable whilst supported by two further cables. Each cabin accommodates up to 17 passengers. There is one intermediate stop, at Vorsass."

"A pulsed movement gondola is an aerial lift where groups of gondolas are fixed to a single moving cable and move in clusters, or "pulses". Unlike continuous flow gondolas, these lifts slow to a crawl in the stations for passengers to load and unload before accelerating back to line speed. They offer a cost-effective compromise by providing higher line speeds than fixed-grip lifts but with lower capacity and intermittent stops, making them best suited for shorter distances and low-demand applications."

 How it Works   

Fixed Grips:  Gondola cabins are permanently attached to the haul rope with fixed grips. 

Grouped Operation: Instead of individual cabins, the gondolas are grouped into "pods" or clusters.  

Pulsed Movement: The entire system decelerates to a very slow speed when a cluster of gondolas reaches the station, allowing for safe loading and unloading. 

 Acceleration: Once passengers are on board, the haul rope accelerates back to a faster operational speed, and the next cluster of cabins continues its journey. 

 Intermittent Stops: On longer routes, this slowing and accelerating process can occur multiple times mid-ride whenever other cabin clusters reach a terminal. 

Advantages

Cost-Effective: They are more mechanically simple and durable, making them easier and less expensive to maintain than detachable systems.  

High Line Speed: They can achieve higher operating speeds on the line compared to traditional fixed-grip systems. 

Quiet Operation: The technology is well-suited for tourist transport, offering optimal acoustic comfort. 

Disadvantages   

 Lower Capacity:  Their capacity is significantly lower (around 300-600 passengers per hour) compared to fully detachable systems. 

Intermittent Stops: The need for repeated slowing and acceleration makes them impractical for long travel distances or high-demand situations. 

Limited Applications: They are best suited for short-distance, low-traffic applications, such as connecting resorts or providing access to tourist attractions. 

"The Niederhorn is at 1950 meters (6397 feet) above sea level. The imposing view down into the Justistal and the spectacular steep abyss with its razor-sharp cliff edges is enough to give you goose bumps. The panorama from the summit is equally impressive: let your gaze wander over the Aare valley to the world-famous mighty snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Oberland giants and even as far as the Jura."

The brunch was delicious and filling!

I put jam in this teeny edible ice cream cone cup. I had raspberry and rhubarb and had to go back just for a cup of rhubarb. It was that delicious!

No Way!!!

Quick hydration stop while we waited for the boat to take us back to Interlaken.

This boat was headed toward Thun.

We are headed toward Interlaken

From the boat, we could see The Hafepintli Restaurant where we ate with Gaby and Felix last Sunday in Därligen.

You can see the top of the Niederhorn where we had a delicious brunch.

"Yes, PostBus (PostAuto) operates electric buses on routes in the Interlaken region, with two already in service and five more expected by summer 2025. The region's new PostBus depot, opened in December 2024, is specifically designed for these electric vehicles. These e-buses are powered by 100% renewable energy, reducing noise and promoting environmentally friendly tourism."

Such a special day spending time with friends.