Vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles is a funicular above Lake Biel in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The line leads from Ligerz/Gléresse at 437 m to Prêles at 820 m on Tessenberg, a plateau part of the Jura range.[2] The line has a length of 1198 m with a difference of elevation of 383 m and a maximum incline of 40%.[2] The single track funicular has had only one car since 2004,[2] when the passing loop and the second car were removed. Two intermediate stations are Pilgerweg at 487 m and Festi/Château at 577 m. The lower station is next to Ligerz railway station and a landing stage for Lake Biel passenger ships.
| Vinifuni Ligerz-Prêles | |
|---|---|
 car at intermediary station Festi/Château, Lake Biel in background, vineyard in the foreground (2021) | |
| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse; Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn; Standseilbahn Ligerz-Prêles; Seilbahn Ligerz-Prêles (Tessenberg) |
| Status | In operation |
| Owner | Aare Seeland mobil AG (since 2003); Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse (1912–1997), Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn AG (LTB) (1997–2003)[note 1] |
| Locale | Canton of Bern, Switzerland |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 4 (including "Pilgerweg", "Festi/Château") |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular (since 2004: lift) |
| Route number | 2016 [1] |
| Operator(s) | Aare Seeland mobil AG (short: asm) |
| Rolling stock | 1 for 50 passengers (since 2004); 2 for 60 each (1949–2004), 2 for 40 each (1912–1949) |
| History | |
| Opened | 8 June 1912 |
| Concession | 1906 |
| Single-car, lift | 18 May 2004 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1,198 m (3,930 ft) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | from opening |
| Operating speed | 5.0 metres per second (16 ft/s) |
| Highest elevation | 820 m (2,690 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 40% |
The line opened in 1910[2] after the Swiss Federal Assembly granted a concession in 1906.[3]
The funicular is owned and operated by Aare Seeland mobil AG since 2003.[2] The railway company had absorbed Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn AG (LTB),[note 1] founded in 1910 and initially named Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse.
lower station (2017)
former funicular car on bridge (2003)
car in the vineyards (2005)
Further reading
- Schweizer, Martin (2013), vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles – ehemalige Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn (in German), ISBN 978-3-907579-54-1
- Stoll, Heinz, 100 Jahre Vinifuni Ligerz-Prêles Ehemalige Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn LTB 1912-2012 (in German)
See also
Notes
References
