Vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles

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)
StatusIn operation
OwnerAare Seeland mobil AG (since 2003); Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse (1912–1997), Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn AG (LTB) (1997–2003)[note 1]
LocaleCanton of Berne, Switzerland
Termini
  • "Ligerz (Talstation)" at Bahnhofplatz / Dorfgasse 1
  • "Prêles" at Route de la Neuveville 1
Stations4 (including "Pilgerweg", "Festi/Château")
Service
TypeFunicular (since 2004: lift)
Route number2016 [1]
Operator(s)Aare Seeland mobil AG (short: asm)
Rolling stock1 for 50 passengers (since 2004); 2 for 60 each (1949–2004), 2 for 40 each (1912–1949)
History
Opened8 June 1912 (1912-06-08)
Concession1906
Single-car, lift18 May 2004 (2004-05-18)
Technical
Line length1,198 m (3,930 ft)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrificationfrom opening
Operating speed5.0 metres per second (16 ft/s)
Highest elevation820 m (2,690 ft)
Maximum incline40%

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)
    lower station (2017)
  • former funicular car on bridge (2003)
    former funicular car on bridge (2003)
  • car in the vineyards (2005)
    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
  1. also Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse SA (LTB)

References
  1. "2016 Ligerz-Prêles (Tessenberg)" (PDF), Fahrplanfelder.ch, Tableaux-horaires.ch (in German), 2022, 2016
  2. Von der Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn (LTB) zur Standseilbahn Ligerz–Prêles ("vinifuni") (in German), AS Mobil
  3. Swiss Federal Council (16 February 1906), "Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung, betreffend Konzession einer elektrischen Drahtseil- (eventuell Zahnrad-) Bahn von Ligerz nach Prêles.", Bundesblatt, vol. 1, pp. 337–347
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