Orelle Cableway Parking, France

Background

Located in the heart of the French Alps, the Orelle cableway parking facility represents much more than a simple parking infrastructure: it is a true decarbonised gateway to the Val Thorens ski area and the iconic Cime Caron, one of the highest ski points in Europe. Situated in the Maurienne Valley in Savoie, this next-generation multi-storey parking facility allows visitors to park in Orelle and reach the slopes directly via the cableway, avoiding transit through Albertville and the frequent traffic congestion towards Val Thorens.

With 956 parking spaces distributed across 6 areas – including a 746-space multi-storey car park over 4 levels, 170 outdoor spaces, and 40 dedicated bus parking spaces – and 80 spaces equipped with EV charging infrastructure (EVSE), the facility is directly connected to the cableway via a footbridge crossing the Arc stream. This parking facility represents a key element in STOR’s sustainable mobility strategy, offering skiers and visitors from France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany fast, smooth, and seamless access to the 3 Vallées ski area, with a 360° panoramic view over the Alps.

Before the project, the site had no access control or payment management system. The facility consisted only of an un-equipped, free outdoor parking area. STOR, together with construction partner GAGNEPARK (awarded the design-build contract for the multi-storey car park), engaged HUB France to design and implement, in just 9 months, a complete, robust, and scalable paid parking solution, fully integrated into the Alpine mountain environment.

Client requirements

• Highly robust and reliable system, resistant to extreme winter weather conditions
• Maximum traffic flow during peak hours (morning arrivals and evening departures of skiers), with spikes on weekends and holidays
• Hybrid ticketless solution based on LPR (License Plate Recognition) technology, with paper ticket backup in case of critical weather conditions (snow, fog, strong sunlight)
• Parking reservation to guarantee access during high-demand periods
• Innovative in-cableway mobile payment system: deployment of the J4Pay service allowing skiers to pay for parking during descent via QR code displayed in cabins
• Differentiated user management: subscribers (staff), dedicated lane for emergency vehicles, nested area management, and visitor access
• Dynamic Parking Guidance system with real-time display of available spaces on the main totem and at the entrance of each area
• 24/7 remote monitoring and supervision, assured by partner Linkview, a telecom operator equipped with a supervision PC connected to the JMS management software
• API integration with TTS parking counting and display system

Solution

STOR had very specific requirements driven by the nature of the site and the strong seasonality of traffic.

HUB France designed and implemented a fully automated and digitalised parking management solution, with installation completed in just 2 weeks, despite the climatic and logistical constraints typical of an Alpine construction site.

​The system architecture was designed with redundant and high-reliability equipment and includes: 10 Magnetic Pro automatic barriers, 5 entry stations with LPR cameras, 5 exit stations with card payment (POS), 10 LPR cameras for license plate recognition, 1 virtual lane with 2 dedicated cameras, 2 self-service automated pay stations, 1 totem for parking occupancy counting, and 1 availability display at the entrance of each area.

At the core of the infrastructure is the HUB’S JMS (Janus Management System), configured on-premise. The system provides full, real-time visibility into traffic flows and transits, transactions, occupancy rates, and ongoing operations, and generates financial reports for bank reconciliation.

The hybrid LPR technology enables fast access through license plate recognition. In case of poor readability (snow, fog, glare), the system automatically switches to paper ticket issuance, ensuring operational continuity in all weather conditions.

The J4Pay mobile payment service has been implemented in an innovative way: a QR code displayed inside the cabins allows skiers to pay for parking during descent, before reaching their vehicle. This advance mobile payment service significantly reduces exit queues, especially during peak hours.

To further enhance the user experience and empower them to manage their parking needs, STOR integrated the JPass digital self-service platform. This allows visitors to reserve parking spot, pay online, manage subscriptions, and access the parking facility directly via their smartphone.

The close collaboration with GAGNEPARK, manufacturer of the parking facility, enabled a seamless integration of HUB systems within the structure itself, fully respecting the landscape integration objective within the natural Alpine environment.

This project demonstrates HUB France’s ability to support customers including those without specific parking expertise in highly demanding environments, delivering tailored consultancy and solutions in complex, high-intensity operational contexts.