A
gondola lift, as opposed to a
cable car, is a means of
cable transport and type of
aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of
steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a
bullwheel in a terminal, which is typically connected to an
engine or
electric motor. They are often considered
continuous systems since they feature a haul rope which continuously moves and circulates around two terminal stations. Depending on the combination of cables used for support and/or haulage and the type of grip (detachable grip vs. fixed grip), the capacity, cost, and functionality of a gondola lift will differ dramatically. Because of the proliferation of such systems in the
Alpine regions of
Europe, the
French language name of
Télécabine is also used in an
English language context.