Funicular railway in suburbs of Montreux, Switzerland
Territet-Glion funicular railway
View down the line from Glion to Territet and Lake Geneva
Overview
Status
In operation
Owner
Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (since 2001); Compagnie du chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion (until 1992); Chemins de fer des Rochers-de-Naye, Montreux-Territet-Glion-Naye, S.A. (1992 - name change in 2001)
The line was opened in 1883, making it one of the oldest funiculars in Switzerland (the Giessbachbahn, opened in 1879, is the oldest). It was built to 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge with two separate and adjacent tracks which spread apart to allow passing at the halfway point. The stations had two side platforms.
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 descended 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 Gangloff AG [fr][4] 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.
