An ingenious exit system at the top station means the operation of the new lift will not be so affected by high winds. In high wind conditions a downwind exit will come into use, and the whole unloading area will have a surrounding windshield. The bottom station will also house the chair 'garage' and piste bashers.

And passengers will be astonished to see mid-journey that the new lift shares a pylon with another lift – a world first! Pylon Number 3 of the new Flimjochbahn, which replaces a four-seater chair, will also be Pylon Number 9 of the existing Hollboden eight-seater chair, the two lifts crossing spectacularly before continuing on their separate ways.

The new Euro 14m Flimjochbahn will be able to carry 3,200 skiers and boarders from the main lift hub at Idalp to Flimjoch at 2,752m.

Meanwhile, just up the valley at the family resort of Galtür, a new 10-seat gondola will replace the existing Breitspitzbahn chairlift, serving the beautiful runs above the scenic Kopsee reservoir.

The new Euro 8m gondola will extend the ski area, with the bottom station right down by the dam at the far end of the lake and considerably lower than the present chairlift bottom station. The gondola will run from 1,768m to 2,295m, with a newly-created 3km piste sweeping down to the bottom station by the lake.

More information on www.ischgl.com and www.galtuer.com