Piz Gloria out of reach for James Bond O.H.M.S.S. tourists

One of the best-known peaks in the Swiss Alps remains off limits until further notice after the Schilthorn cable railway was damaged last week - reports NZZ Online.

The Schilthorn, which boasts a revolving restaurant on its summit, featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty�s Secret Service.

Officials say the closure of the cable railway has so far had only a limited impact on tourism in the mountain resort of M�rren although it means that skiers cannot access the Schilthorn summit.

M�rren�s legendary Inferno ski race is still scheduled to go ahead later this month.

Peter Feuz, director of the Schilthornbahn company, said an investigation was under way into what had caused a cable to chip.

�Independent accident investigators are examining the cable. At this stage we assume it was a technical defect,� Feuz told swissinfo.

The three kilometre-long cable, measuring 40mm in diameter, was damaged at the surface at one point, breaking a 6mm outer layer.

Experts have confirmed that there was no danger of the cable snapping, according to Feuz.

He added that it would take at least five weeks before a new cable could be installed and a regular service between M�rren and the Schilthorn resumed.

�We hope to have more details from the manufacturers in Austria in the next few days,� Feuz said.

The incident has left engineers perplexed, since the railway was given a complete overhaul just a year ago.

�Safety experts tested the cable last April and gave us the go-ahead for the next three years,� Feuz said.

Piz Gloria
In the 1969 movie, the Schilthorn mountain � renamed Piz Gloria for the film � serves as the alpine headquarters of Bond�s archenemy, Ernst Blofeld.

The plot features a gripping ski chase and exciting final sequence in which the villain�s mountaintop clinic is blown up.

Last week cable railway services were suspended after a driver reported hearing a strange noise. More than 50 passengers had to be rescued from the gondola by helicopter and lifted to safety.

The authorities also ordered the temporary evacuation of several homes situated directly below the cable railway route.

Tourism
The closure of the cable railway and the significantly reduced skiing have not led to a drop in holiday bookings at the M�rren ski resort, which is particularly popular with British tourists.

�We have had an excellent start to the winter season and the hotels had virtually no vacancies over the Christmas holidays,� said Peter Lehner of M�rren tourism.

He said they hadn�t had any last-minute cancellations as a result of the suspension of railway services.

But he said there were noticeably fewer skiers coming just for the day, although those who did come were benefiting from price reductions and perfect weather conditions.

�The Schilthorn is the key attraction in our region for skiers,� Lehner told swissinfo.

The tourist authorities said they hoped the cable railway would be fully operational again for the peak winter season, in February.

Alternative run
The incident at the cable railway has forced organisers of the oldest downhill ski race, the Inferno, to change the route.

The amateur competition is still scheduled for January 22 but the approximately 1,800 skiers will begin the race below the usual starting gate, missing out on some spectacularly steep and narrow sections.

Competitors will have to walk uphill for about 15 minutes before they can put on their skis and speed down the slopes.

The organisers say they will try their utmost to prepare a racetrack to the village of Lauterbrunnen at the bottom of the valley to make up for the shortened upper section.

Thanks to `GoldenEye` for the alert.

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