“Funiculaire” in Fribourg has been running on wastewater for 125 years
Published: Friday, Feb 2nd 2024, 16:40
Updated At: Friday, Feb 2nd 2024, 16:40
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It is the last water ballast lift in Switzerland - and it has been in existence for exactly 125 years: The "Funiculaire" in the city of Fribourg is powered by waste water as a special case. The sometimes foul-smelling water is used as drive ballast.
The funicular railroad with a wooden structure climbs just 56.4 meters in altitude and the route is only 121 meters long. But the funicular has been doing its job since February 4, 1899: it connects the lower town (Neuveville) and the upper part of the city (St-Pierre).
Freiburger Verkehrsbetriebe (TPF) has been responsible for operating the system since 1970. "The funicular railroad embodies a symbol of Freiburg's identity," emphasize the TPF on its anniversary: "The railroad is a contemporary witness to the industrialization of the city of Freiburg."
The spectacle of a train ride is over quickly: the journey takes just two minutes. But the "Funi", as it is also known locally, runs every six minutes, depending on demand.
The force of gravity works
The water ballast train runs entirely without a motor or drive. It relies on gravity: the upper carriage fills a 3000 liter tank with filtered wastewater from the city. The "Bähnli" weighs several tons - and pulls the other carriage to the upper station on the descent. The driver regulates the speed with the cogwheel in the Riggenbach rack.
The "Funiculaire" is on the inventory of national cultural assets - and is also an attraction for tourists. According to the TPF, the funicular is one of the last seven funicular railroads in Europe to be operated with water ballast.
The 125th anniversary of the railroad is therefore to be celebrated in style. Among other things, there will be guided tours next Sunday, and in spring there will be an exhibition at the mountain station.
Rescue and renovation after defect
The railroad was once on the brink of collapse. In October 1996, a wagon broke down. The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) ordered a complete overhaul. The city of Fribourg considered shutting down the train and replacing it with buses.
Resistance from the population prevented this. The train was renovated at a cost of 1.9 million francs and the two carriages were given back their original green color. In July 1998, the refurbished "Funi" resumed operations.
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