Ulaanbaatar residents in Yarmag could soon trade hours in traffic for a 12 minute ride above it. The capital’s first urban cable car is scheduled to open on 15 December 2026, according to the project’s local contractor, with safety testing now underway. The route can take up to 3 hours by car during severe congestion, making the cable car a potentially significant shortcut.

📂 The Project

The 4.2 kilometre line connects Yarmag’s Artsat station with Kharkhorin. Built by France’s POMA and financed by a 40 year French government soft loan at near zero interest, it has 98 cabins carrying up to 10 passengers each, with capacity for 2,300 passengers an hour.

• 🎢 The electric line crosses the Tuul River and railway tracks. Construction and assembly are complete, and safety testing is underway. The opening has already been delayed twice, from 2025 to mid 2026. The December date depends on final tests, while fares remain unannounced.

☠️ One Bottleneck, Not the Whole City

Ulaanbaatar’s population has roughly tripled since 1990 to 1.7 million, while roads and public transport have struggled to keep pace. Governments have repeatedly promised a metro, but no line has materialised. Commuters, meanwhile, remain stuck waiting for better transport.

• 👉🏻 The cable car offers a practical alternative for one corridor, but its reach is limited. Mongolia’s coal heavy power system also limits its climate benefits, and the line alone is unlikely to solve winter air pollution. Its wider impact will depend on connections at Kharkhorin. Passengers will still need buses or taxis to reach the city centre, making reliable bus links and an integrated U-Money fare almost as important as the 12 minute ride.

Overall… The cable car could help Yarmag commuters bypass one of the capital’s worst bottlenecks. But without reliable connections and broader public transport reforms, most residents may see little change. Flying over traffic is a welcome option.Getting the rest of the city moving takes more than one cable.