Lugano Città–Stazione funicular
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The Lugano Città–Stazione funicular, ''Funicolare Lugano Città–Stazione'', or ''Sassellina'', is a
funicular railway A funicular (, , ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite en ...
in the city of
Lugano Lugano (, , ; lmo, label=Ticinese dialect, Ticinese, Lugan ) is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Luga ...
in the Swiss 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 . ...
. The line's upper station is located within the main railway station of Lugano, and the lower station is on ''Piazza Cioccaro'' in the historic city centre below. It is one of the busiest funicular lines in Switzerland, carrying 2.4 million passengers in 2007. The Lugano Città–Stazione funicular is one of three funiculars within the Lugano area. The other two are the Monte Brè funicular, which ascends
Monte Brè Monte Brè (925 m) is a small mountain east of Lugano on the flank of Monte Boglia (1,516 m) with a view of the bay of Lugano and the Pennine Alps and the Bernese Alps. It is considered one of the sunniest points in Switzerland. Since 1912, t ...
, and the Monte San Salvatore funicular, which ascends
Monte San Salvatore The Monte San Salvatore (912 m) is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps above Lake Lugano and the city of Lugano in Switzerland. The Monte San Salvatore funicular links the city with the summit of the mountain. The village on top of its peaks, Ca ...
.


History

The line was built in 1886, and was originally water powered. In its first year of operation, the funicular carried 118,884 passengers, taking 3 minutes for the total journey and carrying 40 passengers in each car. The line was completely renovated and electrified in 1955, and overhauled in 1988. By 2014, the funicular was carrying approximately 2.5 million passengers per year and was considered overloaded. A further major renovation took place between 2014 and 2016, intended to increase the capacity of the line by 20%. In order to facilitate this renovation, the line closed in July 2014, and was reopened on 11 December 2016. Two new cars, accommodating 100 passengers each, were built by Garaventa and CWA Constructions Olten. The reconstruction also involved a redesign of the interface between the funicular and railway station, with the funicular terminating in a new lower level foyer at pedestrian subway level. As a consequence the line was shortened from to , and the vertical distance travelled reduced from to . During the opening ceremony, the funicular was named the ''Sassellina''. The name, decided by a contest sponsored by TPL, recalls an old district of Lugano that has now disappeared but was next to the funicular.


Route

The line departs from its own platforms, situated in a new station atrium and below the station forecourt, at approximately right-angles to the main line platforms of Lugano railway station. The atrium is level with, and connected to, the pedestrian subway that links to all the main line platforms. On leaving the station the line passes through a tunnel, before emerging into the open air to cross the ''Via degli Amadio'' on a bridge. It then enters a passing loop, which is situated alongside the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence. The intermediate request stop ''Cattedrale'' is situated at the loop. Below the passing loop, the line again descends into a tunnel, before emerging into the courtyard of the Acquarello Hotel and terminating on ''Piazza Cioccaro'' in the city centre.


Operation

The line is operated by the
Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi (TPL) is a public transport operator in and around the Swiss city of Lugano. Previously known as the Società luganese dei tramway elettrici, Tranvie elettriche comunali, Azienda comunale del traffico (ACT) and Azienda ...
(TPL), who also operate the city's bus network. The line runs continuously from 05:00 to midnight, seven days a week. The funicular has the following parameters: Both terminal stations have platforms on both sides, one used by boarding passengers and the other by alighting passengers. The intermediate request stop at ''Cattedrale'' is unusual, as its single short platform is situated alongside the northern track of the passing loop, and can thus only be served by alternate services in each direction. A stop is requested by buttons at the stop and in car 2, the car which always uses the northern side of the loop, and only a single door is opened at this stop. All platforms are equipped with platform doors, which open in synchronisation with the car doors.


See also

*
List of funicular railways This is a list of funicular railways, organised by place within country and continent. The funiculars range from short urban lines to significant multi-section mountain railways. A funicular railway is distinguished from the similar incline eleva ...
*
List of funiculars in Switzerland This is a list of all funiculars in Switzerland, commercially operated according to a timetable. See also *List of funicular railways *List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland *List of aerial tramways in Switzerland *List of mou ...


References


External links

*
Page on the funicular from the TPL's web site
(in Italian)
Video of the funicular in 1991 from YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lugano Citta-Stazione funicular Funicular railways in Switzerland Transport in Lugano Railway lines opened in 1886 Former water-powered funicular railways converted to electricity Metre gauge railways in Switzerland