Cable Car Malfunction in Haifa Caused by Broken Pulley, Stranding Dozens
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A broken pulley is believed to have caused a cable car malfunction in Haifa on Thursday, stranding dozens of passengers. The emergency system automatically stopped the cabins, and rescue teams were deployed. While one section reopened after 90 minutes, the other remained closed longer. This incident occurred shortly after maintenance and a simulated rescue drill, and follows a similar malfunction in 2022.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A broken pulley is the suspected cause of a Haifa cable car malfunction stranding dozens.
- The system's safety features automatically halted the cabins to prevent collisions.
- Passengers were stranded for up to 90 minutes before service partially resumed.
- The incident occurred two days after the cable car reopened from maintenance.
- A similar malfunction occurred in 2022, leaving dozens stranded.
- The cable car system cost over NIS 330 million and opened in April 2022.
A broken pulley on one of the cable car cabins in Haifa is the suspected cause of a system malfunction that stranded dozens of passengers on Thursday. The failure triggered an emergency stop, designed to prevent collisions between moving cabins. According to an informed source, the safety system immediately detected the issue and automatically braked the cars. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene while the operating company's teams worked to dismantle the affected cabin for inspection. The incident occurred on Line 27, halting both sections of the cable car system. The lower section resumed operation after about 90 minutes, while the upper section remained closed for an additional 30 minutes. Firefighters were prepared for a complex rescue operation, but it ultimately proved unnecessary. One passenger, Itzik from Ashdod, described the experience with his wife Karen as a "nightmare" after being stuck for about an hour and a half on the ascent. The malfunction happened just two days after the cable car reopened following maintenance. Coincidentally, the Haifa fire department had conducted a large-scale rescue drill simulating stranded passengers in the cable car cabins just days prior. The cable car, which opened in April 2022 at a cost of over NIS 330 million, experienced a similar electrical fault about six months later, leaving dozens stranded for up to an hour without danger. A thorough inspection of the damaged cabin is expected to determine the exact cause of the pulley fracture and prevent future occurrences.
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