Niesenbahn funicular
The Niesenbahn is a funicular railway above Lake Thun in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It links a lower terminus, in the village of Mülenen at 693 m and adjacent to Mülenen station on the Lötschberg railway line, with an upper terminus at 2336 m near the summit of Niesen, a viewpoint above the lake and Bernese Oberland.The funicular is divided into two portions with a total length of 3.5 kilometers, an elevation difference of 1643 meters, and a maximum slope of 68%.
| Niesenbahn | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | in operation |
| Owner | Niesenbahn AG (since 2011); Niesen-Bahn-Gesellschaft (‥–2011, name change) |
| Locale | Canton of Bern Switzerland |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 3 (including "Schwandegg") |
| Website | niesen.ch |
| Service | |
| Type | funicular with 2 sections |
| Route number | 2405 |
| Operator(s) | Niesenbahn AG |
| Rolling stock | 4 (2 per section, for 60 passengers each) |
| History | |
| Opened | 15 July 1910 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 1 (each section with a passing loop) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | from opening |
| Highest elevation | 2,336 m (7,664 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 68% |
Construction of the line commenced in 1906, and it opened in 1910.
The service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular is listed by Guinness Book of Records as the longest stairway, with 11,674 steps and a height of 1,669 m (5,476 ft). The stairs are usually employee-only, but there is a public run called "Niesenlauf" once a year.
The line is owned and operated by the Niesenbahn AG.