The Les Avants–Sonloup funicular (French: Chemin de fer Les Avants–Sonloup) is a metre gauge funicular railway in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It links the railway station of Les Avants, on the Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line between Montreux and Montbovon, with an upper terminus at Sonloup.[1][2][3]
| Chemin de fer Les Avants–Sonloup | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Status | in operation |
| Owner | Transports Montreux – Vevey Riviera (since 2001); Compagnie du chemin de fer Les Avants-Sonloup |
| Locale | Vaud, Switzerland |
| Termini |
|
| Connecting lines | Montreux–Zweisimmen |
| Stations | 2 |
| Website | lesavantsfuni.ch |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular |
| Operator(s) | Transports Montreux – Vevey Riviera (short: MVR) |
| Rolling stock | 2 for 40 passengers each |
| History | |
| Opened | 14 December 1912 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 515 m (1,690 ft) |
| Number of tracks | 1 with passing loop |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | from opening |
| Operating speed | 1.6 metres per second (5.2 ft/s) |
| Highest elevation | 184 m (603.7 ft) above Les Avants |
| Maximum incline | 54% |
Description
The funicular, which was opened on 14 December 1912, runs at a right angle to the MOB line for a distance of 515 m (1,690 ft) and in doing so climbs at a 54% gradient to a height of 184 m (603.7 ft) above Les Avants.[2][4] The line is still operated with the original Belle Epoque carriages.[5]
The peak season for tourists, is in the spring, when the narcissus and forget-me-not plants flower in the meadowlands near the summit.[citation needed]
Parameters
The funicular has the following parameters:[1]
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of stops | 2 |
| Configuration | Single track with passing loop |
| Track length | 515 metres (1,690 ft) |
| Rise | 180 metres (590 ft) |
| Maximum gradient | 54% |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Number of cars | 2 |
| Capacity | 40 passengers per car |
| Maximum speed | 1.6 metres per second (5.2 ft/s) |
| Travel time | 6 minutes |
The line is operated by Transports Montreux – Vevey Riviera, under the GoldenPass Services banner.[6]
Gallery
Les Avants-Sonloup funicular cabin
See also
Further reading
- Michel Grandguillaume, Gérald Hadorn, Jean Paillard, Jean-Louis Rochaix (1982), "Les Avants–Sonloup", Crémaillères et funiculaires vaudois (in French), Lausanne: Bureau vaudois d'adresses (BVA), pp. 243–247, ISBN 2-88125-002-5
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References
External links
Media related to Les Avants–Sonloup funicular at Wikimedia Commons- Les Avants–Sonloup funicular web site
