«Urbantech Service» (full legal name: Urbantech Service LLC) is the operator of the Nizhny Novgorod Cable Car, which connects Nizhny Novgorod with the city of Bor. The cable car was modernized in 2024–2025 at a cost of 756 million rubles. During the 2024–2025 modernization, the cabins were replaced and their total number doubled — to 56 units.[1][2] As of August 2026, the company's operations have been suspended pursuant to an order issued by Rostekhnadzor.[3]
Incident of 5 July 2026
On 5 July 2026, the cable car stopped operating during strong winds with gusts of up to 17–22 m/s. Four empty cabins collided with one another in succession near one of the pylons, while passengers were trapped in two other cabins. The cabins carrying the trapped passengers came to a halt approximately 200 metres from the Nizhegorodskaya station; 16 people were left suspended over the Volga, including four children — 12 adults and 4 children were evacuated from the cabins.[4] All trapped passengers were evacuated by rescue workers.[1][5] Following the incident, all 56 cabins were removed from the cable car.[3] Prior to the 5 July 2026 incident, an automation failure had already been recorded on the upgraded cable car: one of the cabins had carried passengers with its doors open. Deputy Head of the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport Denis Ryabinin stated that the 5 July 2026 incident was already the second recorded violation on the upgraded cable car, and announced the intention to discuss with Urbantech Service the question of their continued operation as the managing organization.[1] The circumstances of the incident were concurrently investigated by Investigative Committee detectives, who opened an inquiry under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — concerning the provision of services that fail to meet the safety requirements for the life and health of consumers.[6][3]
Rostekhnadzor Findings and Order
The Volga-Oka Department of Rostechnadzor completed its primary investigation and issued an official order to Urbantech Service LLC. The agency determined that the violations were caused by incorrect actions on the part of personnel: without verifying the accuracy of the errors being reported by the system, staff members continued delivering the remaining passengers to the stations, causing the cabins to collide in one spot. Incomplete assessment of operational risks was identified as an additional violation.[1][5] The collision caused damage to the load-bearing haul rope; the question of whether to repair it or manufacture a new one is to be resolved following diagnostics.[1]
In late July 2026, Urbantech Service LLC reported that it had begun remedying the deficiencies identified by Rostekhnadzor: repair of damaged equipment components and additional diagnostics of the load-bearing haul rope, pylon elements, rolling stock, and safety systems had commenced at the crossing, and additional staff training had been carried out.[1] Upon completion of the remediation works, an industrial safety examination is planned to assess the technical condition of the cable car and confirm that the equipment is fit for safe operation; resumption of the crossing's operations is only possible after such an examination has been conducted.[1][3][5] Under the order, the cable car may not resume operations before May 2027; however, the document provides for the possibility of early lifting of the restrictions: if the company fulfils all requirements ahead of the set deadline, it is entitled to request that Rostekhnadzor carry out an unscheduled on-site inspection.[1]
Progress of Remediation Works
As part of the remediation works, additional training is to be provided to cable car personnel; upon completion of all activities, an industrial safety examination will be commissioned to assess the technical condition of the facility.[1] All cabins were removed from the cable car for the duration of the repairs. The removal of the cabins took place following the incident of 5 July 2026.[1] As of early August 2026, all cabins had been removed from the cable car.[1] In the course of the remediation works, all cabins were removed from the cable car.[1] Upon completion of the remediation works, an industrial safety examination assessing the technical condition of the facility is to be commissioned. Deputy Head of the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport Denis Ryabinin stated that the ministry intends to discuss with Urbantech Service the question of their continued operation as the managing organization, noting that the incident in question represents the second recorded violation.[1] Ryabinin indicated that the open-door cabin incident and the collision of 5 July 2026 together constitute the second recorded violation on the upgraded cable car.[1] Deputy Head of the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport Denis Ryabinin stated that the 5 July 2026 incident was already the second recorded violation on the upgraded cable car, and announced the intention to discuss with Urbantech Service the question of their continued operation as the managing organization.[1] Ryabinin further characterized the 5 July 2026 incident as the second recorded violation on the upgraded cable car.[1]
Closure of Nizhny Novgorod Cable Car in 2026
Sources
- GIPERNN — Months to remedy the violations. When will the Nizhny Novgorod cable car reopen? (archive)
- Kommersant (Volga Region) — Repairs begin on the Nizhny Novgorod cable car — The Nizhny Novgorod Cable Car was modernized in 2024–2025 at a cost of 756 million rubles. After…
- NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Nizhny Novgorod cable car may not reopen until May 2027 (archive)
- Vremya N — Urbantech Service comments on the situation with the Nizhny Novgorod cable car — The cabins carrying trapped passengers came to a halt approximately 200 metres from the station… (archive)
- Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod cable car may resume operations in May 2027 (archive)
- Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — When will the Nizhny Novgorod cable car run again: everything about the repair situation — The remediation works also include the replacement of… (archive)