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 883 m near the summit of the Monte Brè. The top yields views of the city and Lake Lugano.[1]
| Monte Brè funicular | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Upper section car | |||
| Overview | |||
| Other name(s) | Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè | ||
| Status | in operation | ||
| Owner | Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA[note 1] | ||
| Locale | Ticino, Switzerland | ||
| Termini |
| ||
| Stations | 6 (including Suvigliana, Albonago, Aldesago, "Brè Villaggio") | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Funicular with 2 sections | ||
| Operator(s) | Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA[note 1] | ||
| Rolling stock | 4 (2 on each section) | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 10 June 1908 (first section); 17 February 1912 (second section) | ||
| Enhancements | 1959, 1984 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track length | 1,599 metres (5,246 ft) | ||
| Number of tracks | 1 each section with a passing loop | ||
| Track gauge | Metre (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | ||
| Electrification | from opening | ||
| Highest elevation | 883 m (2,897 ft) | ||
| Maximum incline | 60.5% | ||
| |||
The funicular is composed of two separate and independent sections. The first section links the stops of Cassarate and Suvigliana and is only 196 metres (643 ft) long. At Suvigliana passengers must cross the road to reach the lower station of the second, and significantly longer, section. This section is 1,403 metres (4,603 ft) 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 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long path.[1]
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.[2]
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.[1][3][4][5]
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.[4][5]
Operation
The line has the following parameters:[1][3]
| 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 | 196 metres (643 ft) | 1,403 metres (4,603 ft) |
| Rise | 102 metres (335 ft) | 522 metres (1,713 ft) |
| Maximum gradient | 60.5% | 47.5% |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Capacity | 30 passengers per car | 68 passengers per car |
| Maximum speed | 2 metres per second (6.6 ft/s) | 3 metres per second (9.8 ft/s) |
| Journey time | 4 minutes | 12 minutes |
| Opened | 10 June 1908 | 17 February 1912 |
Notes
See also
Further reading
- Consiglio federale (1905), "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.)", Feuille fédérale (in French), 1905/2 (14): 555–558
- Consiglio federale (1913), Rapport présenté à l'Assemblée fédérale par le Conseil fédéral suisse sur sa gestion en 1912, Bern, p. 698
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Consiglio federale (1909), Rapport du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale sur sa gestion pendant l'année 1908, Bern, p. 699
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
References
External links
Media related to Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè at Wikimedia Commons- Official web site of the Monte Brè funicular
- Article on the funicular from the Funimag online magazine
