Lugano Città–Stazione funicular
The Lugano Città–Stazione funicular, Funicolare Lugano Città–Stazione, or Sassellina, is a funicular railway in the city of Lugano in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The line's upper station is located within the main railway station of Lugano, and the lower station is on Piazza Cioccaro in the historic city centre below. It is one of the busiest funicular lines in Switzerland, carrying 2.4 million passengers in 2007.[2][3]
| Lugano Città–Stazione funicular | |
|---|---|
 Both of the post-2016 cars at the passing loop | |
| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Funicolare Lugano Città–Stazione; Sassellina |
| Status | In operation |
| Locale | Lugano, Switzerland |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 3 (including "Lugano Cattedrale") |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular |
| Route number | 2650 |
| Operator(s) | Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi (short: TPL) |
| Rolling stock | 2 for 100 passengers each |
| Ridership | 1,972,789 (2021) [1] |
| History | |
| Opened | 8 November 1886 |
| Intermediate station | 2016 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 206 metres (676 ft) |
| Number of tracks | 1 with passing loop |
| Rack system | - (before 1955: Abt) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | 1955 (water counterbalancing before) |
| Highest elevation | 335 m (1,099 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 25.3% |
The Lugano Città–Stazione funicular is one of three funiculars within the Lugano area. The other two are the Monte Brè funicular, which ascends Monte Brè, and the Monte San Salvatore funicular, which ascends Monte San Salvatore.[4]
History
The line was built in 1886, and was originally water powered. In its first year of operation, the funicular carried 118,884 passengers, taking 3 minutes for the total journey and carrying 40 passengers in each car.[2][3][5]
The line was completely renovated and electrified in 1955, and overhauled in 1988. By 2014, the funicular was carrying approximately 2.5 million passengers per year and was considered overloaded.[2][3][5]
A further major renovation took place between 2014 and 2016, intended to increase the capacity of the line by 20%. In order to facilitate this renovation, the line closed in July 2014, and was reopened on 11 December 2016. Two new cars, accommodating 100 passengers each, were built by Garaventa and CWA Constructions Olten. The reconstruction also involved a redesign of the interface between the funicular and railway station, with the funicular terminating in a new lower level foyer at pedestrian subway level. As a consequence the line was shortened from 220 metres (722 ft) to 206 metres (676 ft), and the vertical distance travelled reduced from 53 metres (174 ft) to 50 metres (160 ft).[3][6][7][8][9]
During the opening ceremony, the funicular was named the Sassellina. The name, decided by a contest sponsored by TPL, recalls an old district of Lugano that has now disappeared but was next to the funicular.[5]
Route
The line departs from its own platforms, situated in a new station atrium and below the station forecourt, at approximately right-angles to the main line platforms of Lugano railway station. The atrium is level with, and connected to, the pedestrian subway that links to all the main line platforms.[9]
On leaving the station the line passes through a tunnel, before emerging into the open air to cross the Via degli Amadio on a bridge. It then enters a passing loop, which is situated alongside the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence. The intermediate request stop Cattedrale is situated at the loop. Below the passing loop, the line again descends into a tunnel, before emerging into the courtyard of the Acquarello Hotel and terminating on Piazza Cioccaro in the city centre.
Operation
The line is operated by the Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi (TPL), who also operate the city's bus network. The line runs continuously from 05:00 to midnight, seven days a week.[3]
The funicular has the following parameters:[2][3][4][8]
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of stops | 3 (2 terminal, 1 intermediate) |
| Configuration | Single track with passing loop |
| Mode of operation | Automatic |
| Track length | 206 metres (676 ft) |
| Rise | 50 metres (160 ft) |
| Maximum gradient | 25.3% |
| Tunnels | 46 metres (151 ft) + 47 metres (154 ft) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Number of cars | 2 |
| Capacity | 100 passengers per car |
| Maximum speed | 3 metres per second (9.8 ft/s) |
| Travel time | 1.5 minutes |
Both terminal stations have platforms on both sides, one used by boarding passengers and the other by alighting passengers. The intermediate request stop at Cattedrale is unusual, as its single short platform is situated alongside the northern track of the passing loop, and can thus only be served by alternate services in each direction. A stop is requested by buttons at the stop and in car 2, the car which always uses the northern side of the loop, and only a single door is opened at this stop. All platforms are equipped with platform doors, which open in synchronisation with the car doors.
References
- "Rapporto d'esercizio 2021 (versione PDF), pagina 22" (PDF). Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi SA. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- "TPL - Lugano Città - Stazione". Funimag. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- "TPL - Funicolare Lugano - Stazione" (in Italian). Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi SA. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
- "Dal 1886" [Since 1886] (in Italian). TPL SA. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- Ammann, Christian (July 2014). "Lugano funicular to be rebuilt". Today's Railways Europe. No. 223. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 14.
- "Worldwide Review - Switzerland - Lugano". Tramways and Urban Transit. No. 949. Light Rail Transit Association. January 2017. p. 32.
- "Funicolare Lugano città - Stazione" [Funicular Lugano City - Railway Station] (PDF) (in Italian). TPL SA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- "New atrium for Lugano Railway Station" [Funicular Lugano City - Station] (PDF) (in Italian). TPL SA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
External links
Media related to Funicolare Lugano-Stazione at Wikimedia Commons- Page on the funicular from the TPL's web site (in Italian)
- Article on the funicular from the Funimag online magazine
- Video of the funicular in 1991 from YouTube