Eckbauerbahn, Cable car system in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

The Eckbauerbahn is a detachable single-cable gondola lift running from the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen up to the Eckbauer at 1237 m. The current lift, in service since 16 May 2019, has 45 six-person gondolas and a capacity of up to 570 people per hour. Its predecessor, opened on 23 December 1956, used 75 semi-open two-person cabins on a 2140 m line over 27 towers.

The first Eckbauerbahn opened on 23 December 1956 after 30 years of planning, built by Pohlig-Heckel-Bleichert for Wank-Bahn AG. Its 75 semi-open two-person gondolas ran over 27 towers on a 2140 m line, taking 14 minutes. After 52 years, worn parts that had to be handmade and foundations needing repair ended operation on 7 October 2018. A new lift opened on 16 May 2019 after seven months of construction.

The Eckbauerbahn takes its name from the Eckbauer, the 1237-metre summit it serves above the Olympic Ski Stadium. The original 1956 line ran with 75 semi-open two-person gondolas, and its stations braked and accelerated the cabins over three separate haul systems, with cable sleds doing the accelerating. The valley station gained a new café when the replacement lift opened in 2019.

The valley station sits at the Olympic Ski Stadium, 730 m above sea level; the mountain station on the Eckbauer is at 1230 m, a 500 m climb. The 2019 lift runs 45 six-person gondolas at up to 570 people per hour. A new café was built at the valley station and the mountain station gained an extension.

The original 1956 lift had 75 semi-open two-person gondolas and took 14 minutes for the 2,140-metre climb. In the stations, gondolas were braked and re-accelerated by three different conveyor systems, with cabins pushed by cable sleds — described in the sources as an absolute rarity. The 2019 replacement carries up to 570 people per hour in 45 six-person gondolas.