Riffelalp tram
{{Short description|Tramway line in Valais, Switzerland}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Riffelalp tram
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Riffelalptram.jpg
| image_width = 270px
| caption = The tram at Riffelhalp Resort station on the loop. In background is the Matterhorn
| type = Tramway, Mountain railway
| system =
| status =
| locale = Zermatt, Switzerland
| start = Riffelalp
| end = Riffelalp Resort
| stations = 2
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 13 July 1899
| close = 30 September 1960
| reopen = 15 June 2001
| owner = Riffelalptram (RiT)
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|675.31|m|mi|3|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = Single track
| gauge = {{RailGauge|800mm|lk=on}}
| minradius =
| electrification = 550 V / 40 Hz, 3-phase (until 1961)
80 V / 400 Ah (since 2001)
| racksystem =
| speed =
| elevation = {{convert|2222|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=5}}
| map = File:Map Gornergratbahn.png showing the Riffelalptram (in black)]]
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The Riffelalp tram ({{langx|de|Riffelalptram}}, RiT) is a high altitude tramway line located in the Swiss canton of Valais near the resort of Zermatt. The line links the Riffelalp Resort to Riffelalp station, on the Gornergrat railway, and via that line to Zermatt and beyond.
The Riffelalp tram is the highest tram line in Europe.{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|title=Summer services on Europe's highest tramway|work=Today's Railways Europe|issue=228|publisher=Platform 5 Publishing, Ltd.|date=December 2014|page=16|issn=1354-2753}}
History
The Riffelalp Grand Hotel, the predecessor of today's Riffelalp Resort, was opened by Alexander Seiler in 1884. In 1898, the Gornergrat railway was opened, linking Zermatt to the summit of the Gornergrat. The line included a station called Riffelalp, but this was situated some distance from the resort.{{cite web | url = http://www.riffelalp.com/history.html | title = History | publisher = Riffelalp Resort 2222m | accessdate = 2014-06-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140606211906/http://www.riffelalp.com/history.html | archivedate = 2014-06-06 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.riffelalp.com/riffelalp_tram_107.html | title = Riffelalp Tram | publisher = Riffelalp Resort 2222m | accessdate = 2014-06-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303152601/http://www.riffelalp.com/riffelalp_tram_107.html | archivedate = 2014-03-03 }}
In order to provide better access to the station, the hotel built the Riffelalp tram. The line opened on 13 July 1899, one year after the opening of the Gornergrat railway. The original track was {{convert|480|m}} long and electrified, using a twin overhead line carrying a three-phase ac supply at 550 volts. The tram operated in the summer months only.{{cite web |url=http://www.strassenbahn-europa.at/strassenba_07.htm |title=Riffelalptram |language=German |work=www.strassenbahn-europa.at |accessdate=2012-12-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606233917/http://www.strassenbahn-europa.at/strassenba_07.htm |archivedate=2014-06-06 |url-status=live}}
During the night of 14 February 1961, the Riffelalp Grand Hotel was destroyed in a fire. The original tram vehicles survived the fire, but without traffic from the hotel, tram service was suspended, it had last run on September 30, 1960. The vehicles were taken to Zermatt for storage, and the line remained closed for the next 40 years.
In 1998, work started on the construction of the new Riffelalp Resort on the site of the old grand hotel. As part of this reconstruction, the tram line was relaid on its original route. The wooden bodies of the original cars had deteriorated in storage, whilst modern safety standards precluded the reintroduction of the original three-phase supply. The original cars were therefore rebuilt with replacement bodies and using battery power. The new line was opened on 15 June 2001.
Operation
The tram line follows the footpath that links the Riffelalp station, at {{convert|2210|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, with the Riffelalp Resort, at {{convert|2222|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. The line has a length of {{convert|675|m}} and comprises a single track of 800 mm gauge ({{RailGauge|800mm|first=imp|disp=1}} gauge).
At the station end of the line, the tram shares the building of the station and is linked to its cargo ramp. This is the highest station in Europe where two different railways meet, the Riffelalp station itself being one of the highest open-air stations. However, there is no direct connection to the Gornergrat railway, which is of {{RailGauge|1000mm|lk=on}} gauge. At the resort end of the line, there is a terminal loop and a depot for the trams, with a battery station.
There are two trams in use, along with a goods trailer. Both trams are powered by a battery (80 V, 400 Ah) and two d.c. motors each delivering 10 kW, and a maximum speed of {{convert|10|km/h|abbr=on}}. The battery is partially recharged during the electric braking operation.
The service operates during the resort's summer season, which runs from June to September. It is the access route recommended for its guests by the Riffelalp Resort, who provide porter assistance at both Zermatt and Riffelalp stations. During the resort's winter season, from December to April, a snowmobile service is provided in place of the tram.{{cite web |url=http://www.riffelalp.com/how_to_get_to_riffelalp.html |title=How to get to Riffelalp |publisher=Riffelalp Resort 2222m |accessdate=2014-06-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606215715/http://www.riffelalp.com/how_to_get_to_riffelalp.html |archivedate=2014-06-06 |url-status=dead}}
Gallery
File:Trams du Riffelalp (Suisse)(1).jpg|The Riffelalp tram at Riffelalp station on the Gornergrat railway
File:Riffelalp.jpg|A wider view of the station, with the track of the Riffelalp tram visible beside the station building
File:2012-08-17 15-22-30 Switzerland Canton du Valais Blatten.JPG|The tram car on the trail between station and hotel
File:Trams du Riffelalp (Suisse)(2).jpg|Tram at the Riffelalp Resort
File:2012-08-17 14-27-06 Switzerland Canton du Valais Blatten.JPG|A wider view of the resort, showing the balloon loop, a tramcar, and the route to the station
Literature
- Wolfgang Finke: Die Fahrzeuge der Zermattbahnen in über 1100 Fahrzeugzeichnungen (DVD book). Verlag tram-TV, Cologne 2010 - {{ISBN|978-3-9813669-0-7}}
- Florian Inäbnit: Riffelalp-Tram; Einst und jetzt. Prellbock Druck & Verlag, Leissigen 2005 - {{ISBN|3-907579-34-8}}
- Florian Inäbnit: Trambahn Mürren, Elektrische Trambahn Riffelalp und Pferdebahn Bellavista. Prellbock Druck & Verlag, Leissigen 1995
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Riffelalptram}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140303152601/http://www.riffelalp.com/riffelalp_tram_107.html Riffealptram on Riffelalp Resort website] (English version)
- {{in lang|de}} [http://www.strassenbahn-europa.at/strassenba_07.htm Riffelalptram on Strassenbahn-Europa website]
- {{in lang|de}} [http://www.greulich.de/Hobby/Bus___Bahn/index/Riffelalptram/riffelalptram.html Images and infos about Riffelalptram]
- {{YouTube|id=sVGj-KOUyNI|title=Riffelalptram}}
{{coord|46|0|7.14|N|7|45|3.37|E|region:CH-VS_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Railway lines in Switzerland
Category:800 mm gauge railways in Switzerland
Category:Tram transport in Switzerland
Category:Railway lines opened in 1899
Category:Railways using three-phase power