Gurten Funicular
Funicular railway at Bern, Switzerland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gurten Funicular (German: Gurtenbahn) is a funicular railway in the southern suburbs of the Swiss federal city of Bern. The line links Wabern, in the municipality of Köniz, with the summit of the Gurten mountain (858 m; 2,815 ft), which overlooks the city of Bern.
| Gurten Funicular | |
|---|---|
| |
 The two cars at the passing loop and intermediary station (2010) | |
| Overview | |
| Other names | Drahtseilbahn von Grosswabern auf die Höhe des Gurtens; Standseilbahn von Wabern nach Gurten-Kulm |
| Native name | Gurtenbahn |
| Status | in operation |
| Owner | Gurtenbahn Bern AG (since 1927); Elektrische Gurtenbahn (1899–1927, name change) |
| Locale | Köniz, canton of Bern, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 46.923831°N 7.443023°E |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 3 (including "Grünenboden") |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular |
| Route number | 2351 [1] (earlier: 1351) |
| Operator(s) | Gurtenbahn Bern AG |
| Rolling stock | 2 for 120 passengers each |
| History | |
| Opened | 12 August 1899 |
| Concession | 1893 |
| City-owned | 1926 (majority, City of Bern) |
| Enhancements | 1931, 1944, 1949, 1966, 1999 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1,059 metres (3,474 ft) |
| Number of tracks | 1 with passing loop |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | Since opening |
| Operating speed | 8 metres per second (26.2 ft/s) |
| Highest elevation | 839.5 m (2,754 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 34% |
Wabern can be reached from the city centre by tram, train or car. Wabern bei Bern station, on lines S3 and S31 of the Bern S-Bahn, is adjacent to the lower station of the Gurtenbahn, as is the Gurtenbahn stop on Bern tramway route 9.[2][3]
The line is owned and operated by the company Gurtenbahn Bern AG.[2][3]
History
The first concession for a line up the Gurten was granted in 1885 but never realized. A second concession was granted in 1893 and the line opened in 1899. In 1931 and 1932 the cars were overhauled and a new drive installed. In 1944 new cars were supplied and the lower station redesigned, with the upper station following in 1949. In 1966 the plant was renewed again.[2][4]
In 1999, the line was completely rebuilt. All the stations were renovated, the drive was replaced, and new panorama carriages were put into operation.[2]
In 2015, the line carried over one million passengers, the largest annual ridership up until that year. In the same year, the line made a profit of around 250,000 Swiss francs.[5]
Operation
.JPG)
The line is operated by the Gurtenbahn company. It has the following parameters:[2][6]
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of cars | 2 |
| Number of stops | 3 (at terminals and passing loop) |
| Configuration | Single track with passing loop |
| Track length | 1,058 metres (3,471 ft) |
| Rise | 267 metres (876 ft) |
| gradient | 34% |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Capacity | 120 passengers per car |
| Maximum speed | 8 metres per second (26.2 ft/s) |
| Travel time | 5 minutes |
See also
Further reading
- Aerni, Agathon (1989), Der Gurten und seine Bahn (in German), vol. Band I: Die Erschliessung des Berner Hausberges, Bern: Verlag Stämpfli
- Gurtenbahn at Zeno.org. Article by: Viktor von Röll (ed.): Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens (Encyclopaedia of the Railway), 2nd edition, 1912–1923, Vol. 6, p. 38
