Biel–Magglingen Funicular

Funicular railway in Biel/Bienne, Swiss canton of Bern

Biel–Magglingen Funicular

lower station (before 1910)

Overview
Other name(s)| Drahtseilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Seilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Funiculaire Bienne–Macolin; Standseilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Magglingenbahn
Status| In operation
Owner| Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (since 2014); FUNIC AG (2000-2013); Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen
Locale| Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
Termini|

* "Biel/Bienne Magglingenb.(Funi)" at Seevorstadt 21
* "Magglingen/Macolin"

Stations| 2
Service
Type| Funicular
Operator(s)| Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (short: VB/TPB)
Rolling stock| 2
History
Opened| 2 June 1887
(137 years ago) (1887-06-02)
Enhancements| 1923, 1954, 2001, 2019
Technical
Track length| 1,693 m (5,554 ft)
Number of tracks| 1 with passing loop
Rack system| \- (initially Riggenbach)
Electrification| 1923 (water counterbalancing before)
Operating speed| 6 metres per second (19.7 ft/s)
Maximum incline| 32%

The Biel–Magglingen Funicular (German: Magglingenbahn; French: Funiculaire Bienne–Macolin) is a funicular railway in the bilingual city of Biel/Bienne in the Swiss canton of Bern. The funicular links Biel/Bienne at 435 m with Magglingen/Macolin at 873 m in the Jura mountains above the town.[1] The line with a length of 1693 m has a maximum incline of 32% and a difference of elevation of 442 m. The funicular with two cars has a single track with a passing loop.

The line is owned and operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (short: VB/TPB) since 2014, when it absorbed "FUNIC AG" that also operated nearby Bienne–Evilard Funicular.[1]Initially it was built by Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen in 1887.

The funicular isn't operating in spring 2023.[2]

## Operation

[edit]

The line has the following parameters:[1]

Feature  | Value

|

Number of cars  | 2
Number of stops  | 2 (at terminals)
Configuration  | Single track with passing loop
Track length  | 1,693 metres (5,554 ft)
Track gauge | (?)
Rise  | 442 metres (1,450 ft)
Maximum gradient | 32%
Maximum speed  | 6 metres per second (19.7 ft/s)
Travel time  | 9 minutes

## See also

[edit]

* List of funicular railways
* List of funiculars in Switzerland

## Gallery

[edit]

* Car dating from 2001

* Bridge just above the lower station

* Share certificate of Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen, issued 5. October 1886

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "BM - Biel - Magglingen (Bienne - Macolin)". Funimag. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
2. ^ Verkehrsbetriebe Biel. "Magglingenbahn ausser Betrieb bis 08.07.2023" (in German). Retrieved 10 May 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Biel-Magglingen-Bahn at Wikimedia Commons
* Official web site of the FUNIC company (in German and French)

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