Page "Cable car (railway)" Paragraph 17

The cable car begins moving when a clamping device attached to the car, called a grip, applies pressure to (" grips ") the moving cable.

Conversely the car is stopped by releasing pressure on the cable ( with or without completely detaching ) and applying the brakes.

This gripping and ungripping action may be manual, as was the case in all early cable car systems, or automatic, as is the case in some recent cable operated people mover type systems.

Gripping must be an even and gradual process in order to avoid bringing the car to cable speed too quickly and unacceptably jarring the passengers.