Niesen Funicular

The Niesen Funicular is a funicular railway in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It links a lower terminus, in the village of Mülenen and adjacent to Mülenen station on the Lötschberg railway line, with an upper terminus at the summit of the Niesen. The line is owned and operated by the Niesenbahn AG.[1][2][3]

Niesenbahn
Overview
TypeFunicular
LocaleCanton of Bern
Switzerland
TerminiMülenen
Niesen Kulm
Stations3
Operation
Opened1910
OwnerNiesenbahn AG
Operator(s)Niesenbahn AG
Technical
Line length3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Highest elevation2,336 m (7,664 ft)
Maximum incline68%
The funicular above Mülenen station

Construction of the line commenced in 1906, and it opened in 1910.[4]

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).[5] The stairs are usually employee-only, but there is a public run called "Niesenlauf" once a year.

Operation

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.[6]

The line comprises two sections, with an interchange station at Schwandegg, and has the following parameters:[1][2][3]

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
Share of the Niesen-Bahn-Gesellschaft, issued 1. October 1907 [7]

References
  1. "NB Neisenbahn". Funimag. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  2. "61,034 Mülenen - Schwandegg, Mülenen funicular". Swiss Inventory of Ropeways (in German). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  3. "61,035 Schwandegg - Niesen Kulm, Mülenen funicular". Swiss Inventory of Ropeways (in German). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  4. "Infos Niesen Funicular". Niesenbahn AG. Archived from the original on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  5. "Science and Technology/Structures/Long Stairway". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 2005-11-19. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  6. "Timetable Niesen Funicular". Niesenbahn AG. Archived from the original on 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  7. Suppes, Bernd (1994). Suppes 94/95 Historische Wertpapiere (ISSN 0936-9406). Wiesbaden-Bieberich: WWA Bernd Suppes. p. 467.

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