Montesanto Funicular
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The Montesanto Funicular (
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...
: ''Funicolare di Montesanto''), is one of four operating
funicular 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 e ...
s in the
public transport Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typi ...
ion system of
Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
, Italy. The system is a true funicular: an inclined railway with two passenger cars connected via cables, operating in concert. Opened in 1891, the Montesanto Funicular carries over 4 million passengers per year. The line connects its upper terminus in the Morghen area of Vomero with its lower terminus near the city's Spanish Quarter via three stations, Morghen, Corso Vittorio Emanuele (Napoli), and Montesanto. At the upper station, it is a short walk to Piazza Vanvitelli, where there is a connection to Vanvitelli station, on Line 1 of the
Naples Metro The Naples Metro ( it, Metropolitana di Napoli; nap, Metrupulitana 'e Napule) is the rapid transit system serving the city of Naples, Italy. The system comprises three underground rapid transit lines ( Line 1, Line 6 and the Naples-Aversa Me ...
(Metropolitana di Napoli), and to the Chiaia and Central Funiculars. A fourth funicular, the Mergellina Funicular, connects Posillipo Alto with the city's Mergellina area. A now defunct system, the Sorrento Funicular, operated nearby from 1883-1886.


History

The idea for the construction of the Montesanto funicular was first conceived during the construction of the Cumana Railway which was designed to service Campi Flegrei along the Naples–Torregaveta route. With the residential area expanding around Castel Sant’Elmo, it was decided it would be useful to have a second
funicular 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 e ...
route connecting the Cumana Railway with Castel Sant'Elmo and the nearby Museo di San Martino. Survey work was carried out by Pariboni & Savoia, and the Neapolitan engineering firm, Officine Nazionali di Savigliano, carried out engineering, electrical and mechanical works as they had done on the Chiaia Funicular. After five years construction, the Montesanto line was opened on May 0, 1891. Initially the line ran smoothly, but the steep gradients of the Neapolitan lines caused heavy work on the original steam traction engine systems, and they soon began to experience problems. As with the Chiaia line, it was decided to replace the power plants with an all-electrical system, which began operation on June 21, 1901. The new system was more effective, and the Montesanto funicular operated smoothly without any issues for the next several years. The next interruption to service was in 1936, when it was decided to replace the original open carriages with enclosed coaches, which were built by OFM (Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali). As with the other three lines, the Montesanto line continued to operate successfully for several years, including continuing uninterrupted throughout
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. As with the other lines, in 1975 Azienda Tranvie Autofilovie Napoletane (ATAN - Neapolitan Light Rail Company) replaced the Società Ferrovie del Vomero (Vomero Train Society) as the operator of the Montesanto funicular. They carried out an audit on the condition of all their assets, and found that the viaduct in the section linking Montesanto and Corso Vittorio Emanuele had been considerably weakened over time. In addition to the general poor state of decline the Montesanto line had experienced, ATAN decided that the Montesanto line required refurbishment. In 1977 they closed the line to carry out essential engineering and modernisation works, entrusting Officine Mecchaniche Agudio to install the same new features as they were doing on the Chiaia funicular. At this time it was decided to install a second intermediate station at Rafaello/Girolamo Santacroce, but as of 2009 construction of this station is still yet to begin. Guaccio Costruzioni carried out engineering surveys, and Mandolino replaced the lines. Nuova Agudio (formerly Officine Mecchaniche Agudio) were given the tender to modernise and replace all of the electrical and mechanical works. Lovisolo constructed new carriages, BMB installed new control and operation systems, and Holtz refurbished the transmission and safety systems. All of the works had been completed by the beginning of 1984, and the refurbished line reopened to the public on 14 April. ATAN was reorganized as Azienda Napoletana Mobilità (ANM) in 1995, becoming the line's operator. In 2001, operation of all four Naples funiculars was transferred to a different municipal authority,
Metronapoli Metronapoli SpA was an Italian company responsible for the provision of public transport in the city of Naples, and its primary function was the operation and maintenance of the Naples Metro system. It was founded on 26 July 2000 and became operat ...
,Webb, Mary (ed.) (2009). ''Jane's Urban Transport Systems 2009-2010'', pp. 190–192. Coulsdon, Surrey (UK):
Jane's Information Group Jane's Information Group, now styled Janes, is a global open-source intelligence company specialising in military, national security, aerospace and transport topics, whose name derives from British author Fred T. Jane. History Jane's Informat ...
. .
but it was transferred back to ANM in November 2013. Further works were carried out in 2005 by Silvio D'Ascia in order to better integrate the line with other urban railway services such as Line 2, Cumana and Circumflegrea, but by early 2008 the Montesanto funicular was fully operational again.


Operation

The Montesanto Funicular carries over 4 million passengers annually. It carries an average of 12,500 passengers on workdays, but this is reduced to an average of 4,000 on weekends and holidays. From the top to bottom the line is long, and ascends in
altitude Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...
, at an average
gradient In vector calculus, the gradient of a scalar-valued differentiable function of several variables is the vector field (or vector-valued function) \nabla f whose value at a point p is the "direction and rate of fastest increase". If the gr ...
of 23%. The carriages travel at an average speed of , and the entire route takes four minutes and twenty five seconds. Each train can carry 300 passengers at a time, giving a total capacity of 6,000 passengers per hour in each direction.


Stations

* Morghen Station * Corso Vittorio Emanuele Station *
Montesanto Station The Montesanto station, in Naples, is a station located at the terminus of the Cumana and Circumflegrea railway lines, both of the former SEPSA. Structures and systems The building, in the 1880s on a design by the engineer Antonio Liotta i ...


See also

* List of Naples metro stations * List of rapid transit systems *
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 ...


Notes


External links


Official site of the Metropolitana di Naples



Railways and metro station of Naples
{{Urban rail transport in Naples Transport in Naples Railway lines in Campania
Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
Railway lines opened in 1891 1891 establishments in Italy