Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion
Encyclopedia
The Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet–Glion is a funicular
in Switzerland
, which runs between the Territet and Glion suburbs of the the town of Montreux
. At its upper terminus, the funicular connects with what was the lower terminus of the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
(GN) mountain railway, which opened in 1892. This later line was joined, in 1909, in an end on junction at Glion with the newly constructed Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
(MGl).
) with two separate and adjacent tracks which spread apart to allow passing at the halfway point. The stations had two side platform
s.
In 1992 the company merged with Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
, since 2001 they are part of Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
.
Up to the mid-1980s the railway operated by gravity alone: Both cars had a water tank under their decks and the one at the upper station was filled with water while the one at the lower station (Territet) was dumping its contents in Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). Once the fill-dump process and passenger boarding were complete the brakes were gradually released and since both cars were attached by a single cable passing over a pulley arrangement at Glion, the heavier car descented the slope carrying up the lighter car. The process was then repeated so the car uphill was always filled and the one downhill always empty and thus pulled uphill when brakes were released. An added picturesque note was that the two car operators were communicating for synchronisation with whistles instead of an intercom or similar device. Eventually the system was abandoned and the train now uses electric traction.
With rebuilding the line adapted the more conventional approach in which only a single track
is used, the two rails opening at the halfway point to form a passing loop. One flanking (side) platform is in use at each station, however the second platform which was originally used can still be seen.
The funicular was closed from 8 June to 2 October 2009 for maintenance work to be carried out and the two cars were taken to the MOB workshops at Chernex for attention and repainting in the new "Golden Pass" livery. A certain amount of rewiring was carried out along with a metal stairway on one side of the track (right hand side when going up) for the full length of the line being erected. Work was also carried out on the station shelters including a replacement roof.
The two cars, originally painted in an all-over red livery, were built by Carrosserie Gangloff of Bern. In the 2009 repaint the cars were painted in a gold (lower portion) and white (upper portion) livery scheme and rebranded "Golden Pass". The new colours will be applied to the other funiculars in the Golden Pass Group as well as buses and trains, other than the Golden Pass Panoramic and Golden Pass Classic which they operate.
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, which runs between the Territet and Glion suburbs of the the town of Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
. At its upper terminus, the funicular connects with what was the lower terminus of the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
The Chemin de fer Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is a mountain railway in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland which links the places in its title, high above the Lake Geneva resort town of Montreux....
(GN) mountain railway, which opened in 1892. This later line was joined, in 1909, in an end on junction at Glion with the newly constructed Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
The line, which links the two places in its title was built by the Chemin de fer Montreux–Glion . Opened in 1909, at its upper terminus it made an end-on junction with the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye and across its platform with the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion. Nowadays, the...
(MGl).
History
The line was opened in 1883, making it the oldest funicular in Switzerland, and was built to (gaugeMetre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
) with two separate and adjacent tracks which spread apart to allow passing at the halfway point. The stations had two side platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s.
In 1992 the company merged with Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
The Chemin de fer Montreux - Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is an electrically operated rack and pinion railway in Switzerland, with a track gauge of , which links the places mentioned in its title.-History:...
, since 2001 they are part of Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
The Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera was a coming together, in 2001, of two small railway companies and two funicular companies in the Montreux / Vevey area of Switzerland. Some of these companies were, themselves, formed of amalgamations which had taken place over the years...
.
Up to the mid-1980s the railway operated by gravity alone: Both cars had a water tank under their decks and the one at the upper station was filled with water while the one at the lower station (Territet) was dumping its contents in Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). Once the fill-dump process and passenger boarding were complete the brakes were gradually released and since both cars were attached by a single cable passing over a pulley arrangement at Glion, the heavier car descented the slope carrying up the lighter car. The process was then repeated so the car uphill was always filled and the one downhill always empty and thus pulled uphill when brakes were released. An added picturesque note was that the two car operators were communicating for synchronisation with whistles instead of an intercom or similar device. Eventually the system was abandoned and the train now uses electric traction.
With rebuilding the line adapted the more conventional approach in which only a single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
is used, the two rails opening at the halfway point to form a passing loop. One flanking (side) platform is in use at each station, however the second platform which was originally used can still be seen.
The funicular was closed from 8 June to 2 October 2009 for maintenance work to be carried out and the two cars were taken to the MOB workshops at Chernex for attention and repainting in the new "Golden Pass" livery. A certain amount of rewiring was carried out along with a metal stairway on one side of the track (right hand side when going up) for the full length of the line being erected. Work was also carried out on the station shelters including a replacement roof.
The two cars, originally painted in an all-over red livery, were built by Carrosserie Gangloff of Bern. In the 2009 repaint the cars were painted in a gold (lower portion) and white (upper portion) livery scheme and rebranded "Golden Pass". The new colours will be applied to the other funiculars in the Golden Pass Group as well as buses and trains, other than the Golden Pass Panoramic and Golden Pass Classic which they operate.
Services
The service, in each direction, commences at 05h25, then at 05h45 and every 15 minutes until 21h15, 21h45 and every 30 minutes until 23h15, 23h50, 00h20 and 00h45. On Saturday and Sunday mornings there is a service at 01h30.Sources and References
- Official documentation from the MOB
- Journal de Pays d'Enhaut, 1 October 2009