Monte Brè funicular
{{Short description|Funicular railway above Lake Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Monte Brè funicular
| other_name = Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Lugano Bergbahn.JPG
| image_width = 150px
| caption = Upper section car
| type = Funicular with 2 sections
| system =
| status = in operation
| locale = Ticino, Switzerland
| start = "Cassarate"
| end = "Monte Brè"
| stations = 6 (including Suvigliana, Albonago, Aldesago, "Brè Villaggio")
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = {{start date and age|1908|6|10|df=y}} (first section); {{start date|1912|2|17|df=y}} (second section)
| event1label = Enhancements
| event1 = 1959, 1984
| event2label =
| event2 =
| event3label =
| event3 =
| close =
| owner = Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA
| operator = Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA
| character =
| depot =
| stock = 4 (2 on each section)
| linelength =
| tracklength = {{convert|1599|m}}
| tracks = 1 each section with a passing loop
| gauge = Metre ({{track gauge|1000mm|first=imp|disp=1}})
| minradius =
| electrification = from opening
| maxincline = 60.5%
| racksystem =
| speed =
| elevation_m = 883
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|type=line}}
| map_state = uncollapsed
}}
File:Monte Brè funicular 02.jpg
File:Monte Brè funicular 05.jpg
File:Monte Brè funicular 07.jpg
File:Monte Brè funicular 11.jpg
The Monte Brè funicular, or Funicolare Cassarate - Monte Brè, is a funicular railway in the city of Lugano in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The line links a lower station in the Lugano suburb of Cassarate with an upper station at {{Convert|883|m|abbr=on}} near the summit of the Monte Brè. The top yields views of the city and Lake Lugano.{{cite web | url = http://www.funimag.com/suisse/monte-bre01.htm | title = Funicolare Cassarate - Monte Brè | publisher = Funimag | accessdate = 2012-04-08}}
The funicular is composed of two separate and independent sections. The first section links the stops of Cassarate and Suvigliana and is only {{convert|196|m}} long. At Suvigliana passengers must cross the road to reach the lower station of the second, and significantly longer, section. This section is {{convert|1403|m}} long, and is very sinuous with further intermediate stops of Albonago, Aldesago and Brè Villaggio. The first three intermediate stops serve the villages of Suvigliana, Albonago and Aldesago, all of which are on the western flank of Monte Brè, whilst the Brè Villaggio stop is linked to the village of Brè on the eastern flank by a {{convert|1|km|4=1|adj=on}} long path.
The Monte Brè funicular is one of three operational funiculars within the Lugano area. The other two are the Monte San Salvatore funicular, which ascends Monte San Salvatore on the opposite side of the city, and the Lugano Città–Stazione funicular, which links the city centre with the railway station.{{cite book | title = Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz | year = 2012 | publisher = Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH | isbn=978-3-89494-130-7 | pages = 58–59}}
History
The concession for the construction of the funicular was granted in 1905, with the intention of creating a resort where the inhabitants of Lugano could, without abandoning their businesses, enjoy the cool during the heat of summer, along with the views. The lower section opened in 1908, with the upper section following in 1912.{{cite web | url = http://www.montebre.ch/pages/show/funicolare?locale=en | title = The funicular | publisher = Società Funicolare Monte Brè | accessdate = 2012-04-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120221043349/http://www.montebre.ch/pages/show/funicolare?locale=en | archive-date = 2012-02-21 | url-status = dead }}
In 1959, the cars of the lower section were replaced with the new metal-bodied cars in a then-modern style, with a capacity of 42 persons each. Similarly new cars were provided for the upper section in 1984, although in this case the cars had a capacity of 68 persons and were designed with a nostalgic look. In both cases, the cars are still in use.
Operation
The line has the following parameters:
{{row hover highlight}}
| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable plainrowheaders" |
| Feature
!Lower section !Upper section |
|---|
| ----
|Number of cars |2 |2 |
| Number of stops
|2 |5 |
| Configuration
|Single track with passing loop |Single track with passing loop |
| Mode of operation
|Automatic |Manual |
| Track length
|{{convert|196|m}} |{{convert|1403|m}} |
| Rise
|{{convert|102|m}} |{{convert|522|m}} |
| Maximum gradient
|60.5% |47.5% |
| Track gauge
|{{RailGauge|1000mm|lk=on}} |{{RailGauge|1000mm}} |
| Capacity
|30 passengers per car |68 passengers per car |
| Maximum speed
|{{convert|2|m/s}} |{{convert|3|m/s}} |
| Journey time
|4 minutes |12 minutes |
| Opened
|{{start date|1908|6|10|df=y}} |{{start date|1912|2|17|df=y}} |
== Notes ==
In 2019, "SA" was added and changed to uppercase: "SOCIETÀ FUNICOLARE CASSARATE-MONTE BRÈ SA"
See also
Further reading
- {{Citation | author= Consiglio federale | url= https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc.do?ID=10076266 |title=Message du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale concernant la concession d'un chemin de fer funiculaire électrique de Cassarate sur le Monte Brè (Du 17 mars 1905.) |journal=Feuille fédérale |volume=1905/2 |issue=14 |pages= 555–558 | language=fr | year=1905}}
- {{Citation | author= Consiglio federale | url= https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc.do?id=50000561 |title= Rapport présenté à l'Assemblée fédérale par le Conseil fédéral suisse sur sa gestion en 1912 | publication-place=Bern |year=1913 |page= 698 }}
- {{Citation | author= Consiglio federale | url= https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc.do?id=50000569 |title= Rapport du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale sur sa gestion pendant l'année 1908 | publication-place=Bern |year=1909 |page= 699 }}
References
{{citation | url = https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objekt.php?objid=40385&lang=it | title = 61.007 Cassarate - Monte Brè sezione 1, Lugano, Funiculare | language = it,de,fr | work = Schweizer Seilbahninventar = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune | publisher = Federal Office of Culture | accessdate = 2010-11-06}}
{{citation | url = https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objekt.php?objid=40386&lang=it | title = 61.008 Cassarate - Monte Brè sezione 2, Lugano, Funiculare | language = it,de,fr | work = Schweizer Seilbahninventar = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune | publisher = Federal Office of Culture | accessdate = 2010-11-06}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè}}
- [http://www.montebre.ch/?locale=en Official web site of the Monte Brè funicular]
- [http://www.funimag.com/suisse/monte-bre01.htm Article on the funicular from the Funimag online magazine]
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46.006214|8.970364|region:CH_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monte Bre funicular}}
Category:Funicular railways in Switzerland
Category:Railway lines opened in 1908