Ulriksbanen
Encyclopedia
Ulriksbanen is a passenger aerial tramway
in Bergen, Norway
. It connects the mountain Ulriken
to the city, and is frequently used by tourists as well as locals. The tramway was first thought of by Frithjof Meidell Andersen in 1954, and a company was established in 1959. After having been constructed by a Swiss
company, Ulriksbanen opened in 1959.
took over the operation in 1983, but was forced to keep the tramway closed in 1988 and 1989 due to a lack of funds.
On 10 January 2006, Ulriksbanen was shut down when one of the track cables derailed. On 4 March 2006, it was reopened, continuing to operate until August the same year when the police was forced to close the tramway after a safety inspection. Ulriksbanen was reopened on 1 April 2007. In January 2008, the tramway was again shut down due to fears that the cables could be too damaged for Ulriksbanen to operate safely.
The Ulriksbanen was reopened for public on the 1 May 2009.
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
in Bergen, Norway
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. It connects the mountain Ulriken
Ulriken
Ulriken is the highest of the Seven Mountains that surround Bergen, Norway. It has an altitude of 643 metres above sea level....
to the city, and is frequently used by tourists as well as locals. The tramway was first thought of by Frithjof Meidell Andersen in 1954, and a company was established in 1959. After having been constructed by a Swiss
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....
company, Ulriksbanen opened in 1959.
Accidents
The first and only accident in the history of Ulriksbanen happened in 1974. During the six first months of the year, a record-breaking 91,000 had travelled with the tramway. On 9 July, one of the gondolas detached and got hurled into the ground, killing four. Following the accident, the tramway closed and did not reopen until 1979. The local department of the Norwegian Mountain Touring AssociationNorwegian Mountain Touring Association
The Norwegian Trekking Association is a Norwegian association which maintains mountain trails and cabins in Norway. The association was founded on 21 January 1868 with the scope "to help and develop tourism in this country". Today the goal is to work for simple, secure and environmentally friendly...
took over the operation in 1983, but was forced to keep the tramway closed in 1988 and 1989 due to a lack of funds.
On 10 January 2006, Ulriksbanen was shut down when one of the track cables derailed. On 4 March 2006, it was reopened, continuing to operate until August the same year when the police was forced to close the tramway after a safety inspection. Ulriksbanen was reopened on 1 April 2007. In January 2008, the tramway was again shut down due to fears that the cables could be too damaged for Ulriksbanen to operate safely.
The Ulriksbanen was reopened for public on the 1 May 2009.