ZERMATT, Switzerland (AFP) - Europe's longest chair lift on a glacier opened officially this week in Zermatt, southern Switzerland, giving snow fans all-year access to the ski resort, an official said. "The lift is operating now and we are very happy with the way it works," said Stephan Binner, director of marketing at Zermatt Bergbahnen, which is in charge of the 2,580-metre (8,600 foot) long transporter.

Built on the Theodul glacier between Switzerland and Italy, the Furggsattel chair lift -- the first of its kind in Switzerland -- took more than one and a half years to construct at a cost of 11 million Swiss francs (seven million euros, 8.1 million dollars).

"Thanks to the new glacier chair lift we will be able to offer 365 days of skiing for the first time," Binner told AFP.

The Zermatt authorities decided to build the lift, which is made up of 119 six-person capsules, because various two-person T-bar lifts already in operation were insufficient to meet demand.

"We were not able to transport enough people fast enough to the right areas. There was always long queues, while many slopes were bare," recalled Binner.

"With the new lift, people can avoid queuing and explore further."

The contraption transports 2,400 people up the glacier an hour, three times more than a T-bar lift, with one trip taking about eight and a half minutes.

Doppelmayr, the Austrian-Swiss manufacturer of the device, had to overcome various technical difficulties because the glacier, which is some 3,365 metres (11,100 feet) above sea level, moves between 0.3 and 3.5 metres per year, said Binner.

To deal with movements by the mountain, however, technicians can shift the lift's 18 masts vertically and horizontally, Binner explained.

The top of the masts can also revolve, he said.

In addition, a Rope Position Detective (RPD) system, monitors the movement of the cable that carries the capsules over wheels at both ends of the lift.

"The RPD sounds an alarm immediately if it spots a problem. Due to this controlling system this is one of the safest chair lifts," said Binner.

The machine started transporting people on October 25 but was only inaugurated at a special ceremony on Tuesday. 

AFP, 13.11.2003