Nuts-and-bolts overhaul for cableway

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company’s (TMACC) annual maintenance shut down is nearing the end stretch. The cableway was closed for several weeks and is due to open after Sunday September 1.

TMACC CEO Wahida Parker says they are doing a full replacement of all four cables for the first time since 1997, as well as maintenance of the hanging and running gear.

“This winter we will be replacing all four of the 1.5km-long track rope cables (the station-to-station length is 1.2km). No detail is spared, and the engineers will inspect every minutia of the operating equipment, the cars, and all their component mechanisms. In addition to the cable replacement, all the hanging gear and running gear, will be subjected to a complete disassembly, followed by a comprehensive nuts-and-bolts overhaul,” said Ms Parker.

Some hiking routes are closed, specifically those that pass beneath the track ropes overhead.

“TMACC closes for maintenance annually, as part of our planned maintenance schedules we follow. There is never a perfect and an ideal time to do this, but we’ve found the middle of the year to be the least disruptive. The work we do ensures that we can continue to provide an iconic experience for visitors from near and far,” she said.

TMACC said in order to guarantee full adherence to worldwide regulatory norms and guidelines, they maintain close working relationships with all local and international regulators.

“Just like how we take our cars in for regular servicing, based on actual mileage, we rigorously inspect and service every aspect of the cableway, ensuring consistent alignment with international best practice and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) specifications,” said Andries de Vries, technical executive at TMACC.