The Fribourg funicular, also known as the Neuveville - Saint-Pierre funicular, is a funicular railway in the Swiss town of Fribourg.
| Fribourg funicular | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | 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 |
|
| Stations | 2 |
| Website | tpf.ch |
| Service | |
| Type | Commuter funicular |
| System | Wastewater-powered funicular railway |
| Route number | 2030[1] |
| Operator(s) | Transports publics Fribourgeois |
| Rolling stock | 2 Von Roll cabins |
| History | |
| Commenced | 1898 |
| Opened | 4 February 1899 |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 121 metres (397 ft) |
| Number 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% |
It is powered by wastewater.[2]
History
editThe Fribourg funicular was opened February 4, 1899.[3] It connects the Saint-Pierre and Neuveville neighborhoods of Fribourg. It closed briefly for maintenance in 1996 and 2014.[4]
Operation
editThe 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.[2] Racks are present at the bottom station for braking.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "2030: Fribourg-Neuveville/Motta - St-Pierre" (PDF), Fahrplanfelder.ch, Tableaux-horaires.ch (in German), 2022, 2030
- ^ a b Kirk, Mimi (16 June 2016). "A Lasting Stink: Fribourg's Sewage-Powered Funicular". The Atlantic. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ "Funiculaire 61.033 Neuveville - St-Pierre (Fribourg), Fribourg". Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles (in French, German, and Italian). 2011.
- ^ "Le funiculaire de la ville de Fribourg sera fermé 3 mois pour révision". RTS.ch (in French). 3 January 2014..