Cable car failure on Kasprowy Wierch. 200 people evacuated
Dangerous situation on Kasprowy Wierch. About 200 people had to be taken down from the peak in emergency mode. Some were evacuated by TOPR. According to RMF24.pl, the cable car drive was probably damaged by a lightning strike.
The weather situation in southern Poland is not the easiest at the moment. In Zakopane, the third degree of meteorological warnings for storms is in effect. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management reported violent phenomena.
The weather affected the situation on Kasprowy Wierch. Around 200 passengers had to be taken down from the peak in emergency mode. Some were evacuated by the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue – we read on RMF24.pl.
Cable car failure on Kasprowy Wierch. Lightning destroyed one element
The reason for the commotion? Probably lightning destroyed one of the elements of the train. After the main drive is damaged, it switches to extraordinary mode. It can also be called emergency mode. The train is then powered by a combustion engine. However, this negatively affects its speed. The cars move much slower than usual.
Some of the tourists who were on the summit were taken down in them. Others were safely escorted in rescue vehicles from the intermediate cable car station at Myślenickie Turnie.
The evacuation was successful. Everyone reached Kuźnice. When asked about the cause of the failure, representatives of Polskie Koleje Linowe are currently unable to determine which element of the cableway was damaged by lightning and how long the repair will take.
“We would like to inform you that the PKL railway is no longer taking tourists to Kasprowy Wierch today” – the railway’s Facebook page only reported.
Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car. How long has it been in operation?
The year-round cable railway running through the Tatra National Park has been taking tourists from Kuźnice to the top of Kasprowy Wierch (1,987 metres above sea level) since 1936. The attraction underwent its last major renovation in 2007-2008. A one-way cable car ride to Kasprowy Wierch takes about 20 minutes. There is one change of trains along the way at Myślenickie Turnie.