After nearly 60 years of independent operations, Kaprun in Austria’s two ski areas of Kitzsteinhorn and Maiskogel are to be inter-connected by ski lifts.
Initial work on an ultra-modern 3S gondola lift to be known as the “3K” (Kaprun–Kitzsteinhorn–K-connection) has already begun with concrete for foundations laid last autumn and work on the lift towers due to start imminently.
At the moment, peak times mean traffic jams and slow-moving traffic between Kaprun and the bottom stations of the feeder lifts, Gletscherjet 1 and Panorama lift. This will soon become a thing of the past.
The connection was decided following the decision to merge the operating companies Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG and Maiskogel Betriebs AG was taken at the end of September 2017.
The lift will fully open for winter 2019-20, although parts of the string of lifts that make the full-connection will open in time for next winter. From December 2019, it will be possible to travel direct from the centre of Kaprun over the Maiskogel to the station at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn where skiing and boarding is possible for around nine months a year on the glacier.