The line was originally opened in 1891,[2] as a metre-gauge railway with a length of 383 metres (1,257 ft) and water balancepropulsion. The cable car ran all year round, in the winter months and in the mid-1890s only on weekends, because of water freezing up the tracks.[3]
This original line closed with start of the First World War in 1914 and did not reopen after the end of hostilities.[2] The construction of a new funicular, in which only Prague workers participated, began on 4 November 1931. Both of the original railway stations were demolished, with the rails and the wagons dismantled.[4] Two new cars built by Ringhoffer were put on the retracked standard-gauge railway between 3 and 10 May 1932. At the turn of May and June, test drives were carried out, followed by a successful technical-police test, and on 5 June 1932, regular operation began. The intermediate stop Nebozízek was put into operation approximately one month later, on July 9.[5]
The line operated throughout the Second World War, with the exception of two short closures. The operation of the funicular was temporarily stopped both in the autumn of 1938 (for about one month) and at the end of the war in 1945 (for about four months). After the war, repairs of the track, buildings and replacement of the tow rope took place mostly before the Spartakiads, when an increase in passenger numbers was expected to rise.[6]
However, a landslide in 1965 caused the service to be suspended, and it was not resumed until 1985.[2] At that time new cars were provided and the track was reconstructed, but the original machinery retained.[7] Both new cars were imported to Prague on 7 February 1985 and re-railed onto the track the next day. On 17 April tests began, and on 9 May 1985, a test operation without passengers began. The ceremonial opening of regular operation took place on 15 June 1985. On 19 July of the same year, the intermediate stop Nebozízek was put into operation.[8]
The operation of the funicular was suspended on 13 September 2024 due to possibility of a landslide following heavy rains. The operation has not been restored as complete refurbishment is scheduled to start in 2025, and temporary repairs would be too expensive.[9]
Operation
The funicular has three stops: Újezd (at the bottom of the hill), Nebozízek (the middle station) and Petřín (at the top of the hill). The funicular operates daily from 9 am to 11:30 pm, with the interval being between 15 and 20 minutes.[10] Regular timed tickets of Prague Integrated Transport can be used on the Petřín funicular.
Nebozízek stationTrain passes through the Hunger WallÚjezd station
Trivia
According to Czech legend, the name of the middle station Nebozízek stems from an incident in which a son of Emperor Charles IV, requesting food, was unable to properly pronounce the Czech letter "ř" when he asked for a schnitzel, so instead of "nebo řízek" (meaning, "or schnitzel"), he expressed the word Nebozízek which actually means little gimlet.[11]
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