Monte Brè funicular
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.
| Monte Brè funicular | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Upper section car | |||
| Overview | |||
| Other name(s) | Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè | ||
| Status | in operation | ||
| Owner | Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA | ||
| Locale | Ticino, Switzerland | ||
| Termini |
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| Stations | 6 (including Suvigliana, Albonago, Aldesago, "Brè Villaggio") | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Funicular with 2 sections | ||
| Operator(s) | Società Funicolare Cassarate-Monte Brè SA | ||
| 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% | ||
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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.
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.