Bellavista is a

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

on the

Monte Generoso railway The Monte Generoso Railway or Ferrovia Monte Generoso (MG) is a mountain railway line in the Italian language, Italian speaking cantons of Switzerland, canton of Ticino, in south-east Switzerland. The line runs from Capolago, on Lake Lugan ...

, a

rack railway A rack railway (also rack-and-pinion railway, cog railway, or cogwheel railway) is a steep grade railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with ...

that connects

Capolago Capolago is a village situated at the south-eastern extremity of Lake Lugano, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Originally a municipality in its own right, Capolago is now a quarter of the municipality of Mendrisio, itself part of the district of ...

with the summit of

Monte Generoso Monte Generoso (also known as ''Calvagione'') is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy and between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. The western and southern flanks of the mountain lie in the Swiss cant ...

in the

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

canton of Ticino Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...

. Bellavista is the principal intermediate station on the line, and at one time the junction point for the Tramway Bellavista.

Bellavista station

The station has a passing loop and an additional siding. It is the principle intermediate station, and the normal passing point of uphill and downhill trains. The station incorporates a popular station buffet, a picnic area, and a children's play area. The environs of the station are wooded, and include views over

Lake Lugano __NOTOC__ Lake Lugano ( it, Lago di Lugano or , from la, Ceresius lacus; lmo, Lagh de Lugan) is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated ...

and the city of Lugano. The station is served by the following passenger trains: There is also road access from

Mendrisio Mendrisio (; lmo, label= Ticinese, Mendris ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian-speaking Switzerland (U ...

to Bellavista, the highest point on the mountain with such access. A hiking trail links Bellavista to the summit.

Tramway Bellavista

In 1867, well before the railway opened,

Carlo Pasta Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: * Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo * Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince ...

built a hotel near to the current location of the Bellavista station. In 1891, shortly after the line opened, a long

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

way was opened to link the station with the hotel. The line was built to gauge, and used a single, horse-drawn, tramcar. Sources differ on the closure date of the line, with both 1913 and 1938 being quoted. The lean-to shed behind Bellavista station building, in which the line's tramcar was kept, can still be seen, as can parts of the trackbed. The hotel has since been demolished, and is now a picnic site.

References

External links

* Railway stations in Ticino Bellavista {{Switzerland-railstation-stub