Gurten Funicular

The Gurten Funicular (German: Gurtenbahn) is a funicular railway in the southern suburbs of the Swiss federal city of Bern. The line links Wabern, in the municipality of Köniz, with the summit of the Gurten mountain (858 m), which overlooks the city of Bern.

Gurten Funicular
The two cars at the passing loop and intermediary station (2010)
Overview
Other name(s)Drahtseilbahn von Grosswabern auf die Höhe des Gurtens; Standseilbahn von Wabern nach Gurten-Kulm
Native nameGurtenbahn
Statusin operation
OwnerGurtenbahn Bern AG (since 1927); Elektrische Gurtenbahn (1899–1927, name change)
LocaleKöniz,
canton of Bern, Switzerland
Coordinates46.923831°N 7.443023°E / 46.923831; 7.443023
Termini
  • "Wabern (Gurtenbahn)"
  • "Gurten Kulm"
Stations3 (including "Grünenboden")
Service
TypeFunicular
Route number2351 [1] (earlier: 1351)
Operator(s)Gurtenbahn Bern AG
Rolling stock2 for 120 passengers each
History
Opened12 August 1899 (1899-08-12)
Concession1893
City-owned1926 (majority, City of Bern)
Enhancements1931, 1944, 1949, 1966, 1999
Technical
Line length1,059 metres (3,474 ft)
Number of tracks1 with passing loop
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
ElectrificationSince opening
Operating speed8 metres per second (26.2 ft/s)
Highest elevation839.5 m (2,754 ft)
Maximum incline34%

Wabern can be reached from the city centre by tram, train or car. Wabern bei Bern station, on lines S3 and S31 of the Bern S-Bahn, is adjacent to the lower station of the Gurtenbahn, as is the Gurtenbahn stop on Bern tramway route 9.[2][3]

The line is owned and operated by the company Gurtenbahn Bern AG.[2][3]


History
The summit of the line, with upper station to left

The first concession for a line up the Gurten was granted in 1885 but never realized. A second concession was granted in 1893 and the line opened in 1899. In 1931 and 1932 the cars were overhauled and a new drive installed. In 1944 new cars were supplied and the lower station redesigned, with the upper station following in 1949. In 1966 the plant was renewed again.[2][4]

In 1999, the line was completely rebuilt. All the stations were renovated, the drive was replaced, and new panorama carriages were put into operation.[2]

In 2015, the line carried over one million passengers, the largest annual ridership up until that year. In the same year, the line made a profit of around 250,000 Swiss francs.[5]

Operation
Lower station (2006)

The line is operated by the Gurtenbahn company. It has the following parameters:[2][6]

Feature Value
Number of cars 2
Number of stops 3 (at terminals and passing loop)
Configuration Single track with passing loop
Track length 1,058 metres (3,471 ft)
Rise 267 metres (876 ft)
gradient 34%
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Capacity 120 passengers per car
Maximum speed 8 metres per second (26.2 ft/s)
Travel time 5 minutes

See also
Bond of the Elektrische Gurtenbahn company, issued 1. August 1899[7]

Further reading
  • Aerni, Agathon (1989), Der Gurten und seine Bahn (in German), vol. Band I: Die Erschliessung des Berner Hausberges, Bern: Verlag Stämpfli
  • Gurtenbahn at Zeno.org. Article by: Viktor von Röll (ed.): Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens (Encyclopaedia of the Railway), 2nd edition, 1912–1923, Vol. 6, p. 38

References
  1. "2350: Wabern - Gurten Kulm" (PDF), Fahrplanfelder.ch, Tableaux-horaires.ch (in German), 2022, 2350
  2. "GB - Gurten Bahn". Funimag. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  3. "Gurtenpark - Welcome". Gurtenpark Bern. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  4. Aerni, Agathon (1989). Der Gurten und seine Bahn. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. "Gurtenbahn transportierte mehr als eine Million Gäste" [Gurtenbahn transported more than one million guests]. Berner Zeitung (in German). 14 June 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  6. "Wabern - Gurten". Gangloff Switzerland. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  7. Suppes 94/95 Historische Wertpapiere. WWW Bernd Suppes. 1994. p. 454. ISSN 0936-9406.


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