Fribourg funicular

Water-powered funicular railway in Switzerland

3 ft 11+1⁄4 in)Electrification- (water counterbalancing)Operating speed1.2 metres per second (3.9 ft/s)Highest elevation609 metres (1,998 ft)Maximum incline55%

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 wastewater.[2]

History

The 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

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.[2] Racks are present at the bottom station for braking.

See also

References

  1. ^ "2030: Fribourg-Neuveville/Motta - St-Pierre" (PDF), Fahrplanfelder.ch, Tableaux-horaires.ch (in German), 2022, 2030
  2. ^ a b Kirk, Mimi (16 June 2016). "A Lasting Stink: Fribourg's Sewage-Powered Funicular". The Atlantic. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Funiculaire 61.033 Neuveville - St-Pierre (Fribourg), Fribourg". Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles (in French, German, and Italian). 2011.
  4. ^ "Le funiculaire de la ville de Fribourg sera fermé 3 mois pour révision". RTS.ch (in French). 3 January 2014..

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