Gurten Funicular

The Gurten Funicular (German: Gurtenbahn) is a funicular railway in the southern suburbs of the Swiss capital city of Bern. The line is owned and operated by the Gurtenbahn Bern AG company.[1][2]

Gurten Funicular
Overview
Native nameGurtenbahn
TypeFunicular
Coordinates46.923831°N 7.443023°E / 46.923831; 7.443023
Stations3
Operation
Opened1899
OwnerGurtenbahn Bern AG
Operator(s)Gurtenbahn Bern AG
Technical
Track length1,058 metres (3,471 ft)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Maximum incline34%

The line links Wabern, in the municipality of Köniz, with the summit of the Gurten mountain, which overlooks the city of Bern. 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.[1][2]

History
The summit of the line, with upper station to left

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.[1][3]

In 1999, the line was completely rebuilt. All the stations were renovated, the drive was replaced, and new panorama carriages were put into operation.[1]

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.[4]

Operation
The passing loop and intermediate station

The line is operated by the Gurtenbahn company. It has the following parameters:[1][5]

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
Bond of the Elektrische Gurtenbahn company, issued 1. August 1899[6]

References
  1. "GB - Gurten Bahn". Funimag. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  2. "Gurtenpark - Welcome". Gurtenpark Bern. Archived from the original on 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  3. Aerni, Agathon (1989). Der Gurten und seine Bahn. Die Erschliessung des Berner Hausberges. Bern: Verlag Stämpfli.
  4. "Gurtenbahn transportierte mehr als eine Million Gäste" [Gurtenbahn transported more than one million guests]. Berner Zeitung (in German). 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  5. "Wabern - Gurten". Gangloff Switzerland. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  6. Suppes 94/95 Historische Wertpapiere. WWW Bernd Suppes. 1994. p. 454. ISSN 0936-9406.


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