Rail lifts

Funicular

A funicular is a railway on which cars are hauled up a steep track by a cable. Usually two cars are tied to one cable, so one climbs as the other descends and they pass halfway on a loop. It is the fastest ropeway system, at up to 14 m/s, and wind barely affects it.

A funicular into the mountainSchematic funicular from a village station up a slope into a tunnel inside the mountain, with a passing loop halfway and the top station above.
  1. Valley station
  2. Tunnel portal
  3. Passing loop
  4. Haul cable
  5. Mountain station

At a glance

Typical range
Per carrier
100–400 people
Line speed
5–14 m/s
People per hour
1,000–8,000 people/hour
Grip
No rope gripEnclosed · Skis on: No
Wind tolerance
No published figure
Beginner-friendly

How it works

A drive in the top station turns a cable fixed to both cars. Their weights balance, so the motor only lifts the difference and the passengers.

The cars pass on a short double-track section in the middle of the line.

Cars are stepped, so every compartment floor stays level on the slope. Leitner builds cars for up to 400 people.

How to ride it

  1. Carry skis

  2. Board

  3. Ride

  4. Step out

  1. Carry your skis to the platform.
  2. Board when the doors open; stand on the stepped floor.
  3. Ride; there is little to feel inside a tunnel.
  4. Leave at the top station.

Where you’ll find it

Scandinavia

Åre’s Bergbana has climbed from the village since 1910.

The Alps

Several, often in tunnels: the Perce-Neige in Tignes runs inside the mountain to the glacier.

On PisteWindow

Lift types are recorded for 74 of 247 destinations so far.

History and notable examples

Åre Bergbana opened on 7 March 1910.

The Gelmerbahn, built for a dam, has gradients up to 106 percent and has been open to the public since 2001.

The Perce-Neige in Tignes carried its first skiers in April 1993, at 12 m/s.

Compare with

Cog railway

Drives itself with a toothed wheel.

2.5–7 m/s

Aerial tramway

Two cabins too, but hanging from ropes.

6–200 people · 10–12.5 m/s

Compare with
AttributeFunicularCog railwayAerial tramway
Per carrier100–400 peopleNo published figure6–200 people
Line speed5–14 m/s2.5–7 m/s10–12.5 m/s
People per hour1,000–8,000 people/hourNo published figure500–2,000 people/hour
GripNo rope gripNo rope gripFixed
EnclosureEnclosedEnclosedEnclosed
Skis onNoNoNo
Wind toleranceNo published figureNo published figureNo published figure
Beginner-friendlyEasyEasyEasy

Questions

Does a funicular stop in wind?

Rarely. Its cars run on rails, often in tunnels. We found no published wind limit.

Why are the cars stepped?

So floors and seats stay level on the steep track.

How do two cars share one track?

They meet at a passing loop halfway, where the track splits for a short distance.

Is a funicular a train?

It runs on rails, but it is pulled by a cable rather than driving its own wheels.

Names in other languages

Names in other languages
LanguageName
EnglishFunicular
DeutschStandseilbahn
SvenskaBergbana
FrançaisFuniculaire
ItalianoFunicolare
NederlandsKabelspoorweg (funiculaire)
EspañolFunicular
DanskKabelbane (funikulær)
Norsk bokmålKabelbane

Sources

  1. Åre Destination (aresweden.com) · Åre Bergbana - 800 meters of history · Checked
  2. CFD · Tignes funicular Perce-Neige (machines) · Checked
  3. funiculaires-france.fr · Tignes funicular · Checked
  4. Länsstyrelsen Jämtlands län · Åre bergbana och Grottan · Checked
  5. LEITNER AG · Winter sports ropeway systems brochure (EN) · Checked
  6. Lift-World (lift-world.info) · Funiculaire du Perce-Neige (lift 2649) · Checked
  7. Wikipedia (pointer only) · Gelmer Funicular · Checked