A new cable car may be built at one of Hungary’s most picturesque spots – here are the visuals

The government finally gave the greenlight for a long-anticipated project: A 2,300-meter-long cable car will be built along with the renovation of the Kopasz-hegy TV tower. Both two undertakings are parts of the large-scale Tokaj investment plan.

The government gave permit for the investment

The government’s decision was published on the measures related to the development of the TV tower and chairlift in Tokaj. In the statement, the government declared its intention to support the preparation and implementation of the Kopasz-hegy TV tower and the closed-cabin chairlift projects. The planning phase has already started by Tokaj Borvidék Fejlödenésért Nonprofit Ltd, writes vg.hu. The cabinet also decided that as of 1 September, 2023, the Ministry of Construction and Transportation will be responsible for the implementation of the investment. In this context, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics was assigned to work with the Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár to ensure the conclusion of the agreements and tasks necessary for the handover. They are actually running against time, as the deadline is 31 August 31.

Here is the plan of the Tokaj cable car

The idea of the Tokaj project is part of the Tokaj-Zemplén Development Programme adopted by the government in 2020. At the beginning of 2022, the Tokaj Borvidék Fejlődéséért Nonprofit Ltd also announced a public procurement. It reveals that a four-season cable car with a closed cabin, unprecedented in Hungary, is planned be built, which will travel on a 2,300-metre-long track with varied terrain features. The starting point will be at Fesztiválkatlan, and the arrival point will be at the Kopasz-hegyi TV tower. The latter is in dire need of renovation because the tower, built in the 1960s, is a particularly popular excursion destination, even though it was previously closed to the public. The building would be given a new function, and an exhibition space and service units would be created in it, along with a 50-metre-high panoramic elevator.

In addition, the starting point of the cable car in Fesztiválkatlan would also be modernised: here, according to the plans, a 600-square-metre, multi-storey building would await visitors. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the chairlift and the TV tower are parallel developments, but they run separately, since the latter is a classic high-rise construction task, and the chairlift is a linear facility.

The cable car will cost more than HUF 2.5–3 billions

The first phase of the utilisation of the TV tower was scheduled for 2022, this was revealed in György Wáberer’s Facebook post at the time. However, the war intervened and construction slowed down. It is known that Hadas Építész Mérnöki és Mövészeti Ltd won the design order for the chairlift for HUF 48.5 million net (EUR 125924.33), the relevant contract was concluded in March 2022. The exact cost of the construction can be determined based on the construction plans. In any case, last spring it was estimated that the construction of the chairlift could cost approximately HUF 2.5–3 billion (EUR 7788015.93). However, this calculation was based on the prices at the time, since then both construction industry and building material market prices have skyrocketed. Therefore, the cable car could cost even more.