The municipality of Brienz lies on the shores of Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland. Surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes, the village offers attractions such as the promenade, the lake, the Rothorn, and the Axalp, which have drawn numerous visitors.

The snow-scarce and warm winter of 2022/2023 highlighted the need for winter sports destinations to develop alternative offerings to secure their future. In response, the board of directors of Sportbahnen Axalp Windegg AG developed a sustainability strategy with seven projects. Just one year after the strategy was introduced, the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine project was implemented. Following that, the realization of the first electric shuttle boat on Lake Brienz was launched.

The investment costs for the electric shuttle boat would have posed a financial challenge for the Axalp winter sports area. Thanks to Transitgas AG, the New Regional Policy (NRP) of the federal government, and other sponsors, the project was realized. The offering was not only an enrichment for the local population and tourists in Brienz but also created year-round jobs for the employees of Sportbahnen Axalp Windegg AG.

The electric shuttle boat operates in the upper basin of Lake Brienz: from Brienz railway station to Camping Aaregg, on to the Giessbach and Lindellen boat stations, and back to Brienz railway station. The shuttle boat, designed for ten passengers, is primarily in use during the summer. It was named after the famous boatwoman of Brienz, Elisabetha Grossmann. Born on December 14, 1795, in Brienz, she was a renowned Swiss boatwoman on Lake Brienz and one of the most famous women in the Bernese Oberland in the early 19th century.

The “E-lisabetha” project was selected by Transitgas AG through a criteria-based process and external consultation. Key factors included the well-founded sustainability strategy, the convincing project design, and its connection to ecological, economic, and social sustainability in the Brienz region. The initiative was also recognized for its innovative and visionary use of electric propulsion on waterways. Transitgas AG is proud to have contributed to this project and to have strengthened its collaboration with Sportbahnen Axalp Windegg AG, the municipality of Brienz, and the region.

Bildnachweis 1-3: zVg Sportbahnen Axalp Windegg AG