Fribourg funicular

Fribourg funicular
Overview
Other name	Neuveville - Saint-Pierre funicular
Native name	Funiculaire Neuveville - Saint-Pierre à Fribourg
Status	in operation
Owner	Transports publics Fribourgeois (since 2000); Société du Funiculaire Neuveville-St-Pierre à Fribourg SA (-1977); Transports en commun de Fribourg SA (1977-2000)
Locale	Fribourg, Switzerland
Termini	Neuveville St-Pierre
Stations	2
Website	tpf.ch
Service
Type	Commuter funicular
System	Wastewater-powered funicular railway
Route number	2030
Operator	Transports publics Fribourgeois
Rolling stock	2 Von Roll cabins
History
Work began	1898
Opened	4 February 1899 (127 years ago) (1899-02-04)
Completed	1899
Technical
Line length	121 metres (397 ft)
Num of tracks	1 with passing loop
Character	Commuter and touristic funicular
Track gauge	1,200 mm (3 ft 11+1⁄4 in)
Electrification	- (water counterbalancing)
Operating speed	1.2 metres per second (3.9 ft/s)
Highest elevation	609 metres (1,998 ft)
Maximum incline	55%

The Fribourg funicular, also known as the Neuveville - Saint-Pierre funicular, is a funicular railway in the Swiss town of Fribourg. It is powered by the use of wastewater as ballast.

History

The Fribourg funicular was opened February 4, 1899. It connects the Saint-Pierre and Neuveville neighborhoods of Fribourg. It closed briefly for maintenance in 1996 and 2014.

Operation

The rolling stock is made up of two opposing Von Roll cabins, which act as counterweights. Wastewater from the Saint-Pierre neighborhood is poured into the upper cabin, driving it downwards and the other cabin upwards. The wastewater is then dumped back out into the lower Neuveville neighborhood's sewer system. Racks are present at the bottom station for braking.

See also

• List of funiculars in Switzerland

References

46°48′14″N 7°9′27″E / 46.80389°N 7.15750°E / 46.80389; 7.15750