U-Bahn Serfaus

U-Bahn Serfaus
U-Bahn Serfaus
	Seilbahn station
Overview
Locale	Serfaus, Austria
Transit type	Funicular
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	4
Operation
Began operation	14 December 1985
Operator(s)	Seilbahn Komperdell GmbH
Technical
System length	1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Electrification	950 V AC OHLE
System map
System map

The U-Bahn Serfaus (until 2019 Dorfbahn Serfaus, lit. 'Serfaus Village Railway') is an underground air cushion funicular people mover system in the Tyrolian village of Serfaus in Austria.

Overview

Serfaus is a busy ski resort, and during the season has to cater for large numbers of skiers. The slopes are accessed by a cable car and a gondola lift, whose lower stations are situated at one end of the village's main street. A large car park is located at the other end of this street, and the Dorfbahn connects the two, allowing the conversion of the village into a car-free zone. Besides the two terminal stations at Seilbahn (cable car) and Parkplatz (car park), there are two intermediate stations in the village centre.^[1]

The line was built in 1985 by the Freissler-Otis company, and began operation on 14 December that year, with its official opening taking place on 16 January the following year. It consists of a single, 1,280 m (4,200 ft) one-track line, with a single train operating on a shuttle basis. The train comprises two cars, is suspended on an air cushion, and is moved by a funicular haulage system. The tunnel is 3.24 m (10.6 ft) wide and 3.52 m (11.5 ft) high. The train can carry 390 people, and travels at a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).^[2]

During the winter season the line operates between 07:45 and 18:45, and between 07:45 and 17:30 or 18:15 in the summer. A single journey takes 7 minutes, with the intermediate stations served only in the respective main load direction (in the morning toward Seilbahn, in the afternoon toward Parkplatz). The service is free of charge.^{[citation needed]}

Extensive renovations were carried out from 2016 to 2019, and the new train, manufactured by Leitner Ropeways, began operating in July 2019, almost doubling its passenger capacity.^[3]

Stations

Schematic network plan of the U-Bahn Serfaus

Station	km	Notes
Parkplatz	0.0	Parking area
Kirche	0.6	Church, town's centre
Zentrum	0.8	Formerly named Raika. Bank,^[a] town's centre
Seilbahn	1.3	Cable Car station

Gallery

The terminal point of U-bahn tunnel
Parkplatz station
Internal platform screen doors at most stations (before renovation), with LED indicators
Glass platform screen doors at Seilbahn station, with LCD indicators
Interior of the old Otis train
Interior of the new Leitner train