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Funicular railway in the canton of Bern From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Niesenbahn is a funicular railway above Lake Thun in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It links a lower terminus, in the village of Mülenen at 693 m and adjacent to Mülenen station on the Lötschberg railway line, with an upper terminus at 2336 m near the summit of Niesen, a viewpoint above the lake and Bernese Oberland. The funicular is divided into two portions with a total length of 3.5 kilometers, an elevation difference of 1643 meters, and a maximum slope of 68%.
| Niesenbahn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Overview | |
| Status | in operation |
| Owner | Niesenbahn AG (since 2011); Niesen-Bahn-Gesellschaft (‥–2011, name change) |
| Locale | Canton of Bern Switzerland |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 3 (including "Schwandegg") |
| Website | niesen.ch |
| Service | |
| Type | funicular with 2 sections |
| Route number | 2405[1] |
| Operator(s) | Niesenbahn AG |
| Rolling stock | 4 (2 per section, for 60 passengers each) |
| History | |
| Opened | 15 July 1910 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 1 (each section with a passing loop) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | from opening |
| Highest elevation | 2,336 m (7,664 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 68% |
Construction of the line commenced in 1906, and it opened in 1910.[2]
The service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular is listed by Guinness Book of Records as the longest stairway, with 11,674 steps and a height of 1,669 m (5,476 ft).[3] The stairs are usually employee-only, but there is a public run called "Niesenlauf" once a year.[4]
The line is owned and operated by the Niesenbahn AG.[5][6][7]
The line operates from late April to mid November, with cars operating every 30 minutes between 08:00 and 17:00. A 15-minute interval service is provided at busy periods, and evening services are operated on some days.[8]
The line comprises two sections, with an interchange station at Schwandegg, and has the following parameters:[5][6][7]
| Feature | Lower section | Upper section |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cars | 2 | 2 |
| Number of stops | 2 | 2 |
| Configuration | Single track with passing loop | Single track with passing loop |
| Track length | 2,112 m (6,929 ft) | 1,388 m (4,554 ft) |
| Rise | 975 m (3,199 ft) | 667 m (2,188 ft) |
| Maximum gradient | 66% | 68% |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Speed | 2.9 m/s (9.5 ft/s) | 2.0 m/s (6.6 ft/s) |
| Journey time | 13 mins | 12.5 mins |
| Capacity | 60 passengers per car; 120 persons in each direction per hour | 60 passengers per car; 120 persons in each direction per hour |
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