On September 4, 2026, Réunion's Regional Permanent Commission voted a €20 million grant to finance the second line of Saint-Denis's urban cable car network. A structural investment in the island capital's mobility, in line with the territory's transport decarbonisation strategy.
1.3 km Between La Montagne and Bellepierre
The project will connect the La Montagne and Bellepierre districts, spanning a significant elevation change. The lower station (Hôpital) will be located near Boulevard Sud; the upper station (La Vigie) will sit between a viewpoint and a football stadium. Over 1.3 kilometres, the link will eliminate the cumbersome detours forced by the rugged topography of the island's north.
Service launch is scheduled for September 2028.
€39.75M Total Cost, 55% Covered by the Region
Total project cost is estimated at €39.75 million. The €20 million grant, financed by ERDF funds (European Regional Development Fund), represents the direct regional contribution — 55% of the overall budget. The delegated project owner is CINOR (Intercommunal Community of Northern Réunion).
This line is part of the urban cable car network delivered by MND (Montagne et Neige Développement), which had already won the first line of the Saint-Denis system.
A Sustainable Mobility Strategy
The initiative addresses several simultaneous objectives: reducing dependence on private cars in a city plagued by chronic congestion, limiting ground footprint in environmentally sensitive areas, and offering accessible, modern transport to an isolated district. It dovetails with high-frequency bus (BHNS) projects and the future Réunion Express rail network.
"Modern, sustainable and accessible mobility" is the stated objective of regional elected representatives for this new facility, which aims to make Saint-Denis a reference for urban cable transport on an island territory.
Why This Matters
Beyond its local relevance, this project sends a strong signal to investors and other Indian Ocean territories about Réunion's capacity to finance innovative infrastructure using EU leverage funds. It also illustrates the rise of cable mobility solutions as a response to the topographic constraints of islands — a model potentially replicable across the archipelago.