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The Polybahn, also known as the UBS Polybahn, is a
UBS Polybahn official web site
(in German)
Video of descent of the line from YouTube
{{Coord, 47, 22, 35, N, 8, 32, 38, E, region:CH-ZH_type:landmark, display=title Former water-powered funicular railways converted to electricity Funicular railways in Switzerland Transport in Zürich Railway lines opened in 1889 Hochschulen
The Polybahn, also known as the UBS Polybahn, 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 Zürich
, neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon
, twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco
Zürich ...
, Switzerland. The line links the ''Central'' square with the terrace by the main building of ETH Zürich
(colloquially)
, former_name = eidgenössische polytechnische Schule
, image = ETHZ.JPG
, image_size =
, established =
, type = Public
, budget = CHF 1.896 billion (2021)
, rector = Günther Dissertori
, president = Joël Mesot
, a ...
, which was formerly called ''Eidgenössisches Polytechnikum'', and from which the railway derives its name. Previous names for the line include the SBG Polybahn and the Zürichbergbahn. The line is owned by the banking group UBS AG
UBS Group AG is a multinational investment bank and financial services company founded and based in Switzerland. Co-headquartered in the cities of Zürich and Basel, it maintains a presence in all major financial centres as the largest Swis ...
, and operated on their behalf by the municipal transport operator Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) is a public transport operator in the Swiss city of Zürich, and is wholly owned by the city. Previously known as the Städtische Strassenbahn Zürich (StStZ), the organisation was founded in 1896 and adopted its cu ...
.
The Polybahn is one of two funiculars within the city of Zürich, the other being the Rigiblick funicular in the city's northern suburbs. Additionally, the city's ''Dolderbahn ''rack railway was originally a funicular, until its conversion to rack working in the 1970s.
History
In 1886 a concession for the railway was issued, and the line was opened by the Zürichbergbahn company in 1889. The funicular was initially water-driven (filling water in a ballast tank under the carriage at the top station, emptying at the bottom); the railway was converted to electric drive in 1897. In 1950 the Zürichbergbahn company began losing money, and eventually (in the 1970s) decided not to renew the concession. In 1972 a foundation was created to help preserve the Polybahn. In 1976 theUnion Bank of Switzerland
Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) was a Swiss investment bank and financial services company located in Switzerland. The bank, which at the time was the second largest bank in Switzerland, merged with Swiss Bank Corporation in 1998, to become ...
, then known in German as the ''Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft'' or SBG, rescued the Polybahn, branding it as the SBG Polybahn. The line and cars were refurbished for a planned 20 more years service.
In 1996 the railway was completely rebuilt. The haulage mechanism was replaced, and fully automated, whilst the old three-rail tracks were replaced with the current two-rail tracks. On 21 October 1996 the railway reopened and is now advertised under the name UBS Polybahn, reflecting the rebranding (in 1998) of the owning banking group as UBS AG. In 1998 the line set a new record, carrying more than 2 million passengers.
On 30 May 2021 the Polybahn was closed for refurbishment, with the cars being removed by crane. The Polybahn reopened on 17 September 2021.
Operation
The line has the following parameters: The standardZürcher Verkehrsverbund
The ZVV (German abbreviation for Zürcher Verkehrsverbund, translated into English as Zürich Transport Network or Zürich Traffic Network) is a public transportation system. It combines rail, bus, tram, trolleybus, lake boat, cable car and oth ...
zonal fare tariffs apply, with the whole of the line being within fare zone 110 (formerly zone 10) (Zürich city). A special Polybahn ticket is also available; it costs less than the regular 110 fare.
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
UBS Polybahn official web site
(in German)
Video of descent of the line from YouTube
{{Coord, 47, 22, 35, N, 8, 32, 38, E, region:CH-ZH_type:landmark, display=title Former water-powered funicular railways converted to electricity Funicular railways in Switzerland Transport in Zürich Railway lines opened in 1889 Hochschulen