
The Territet–Glion funicular railway () is a
funicular
A funicular ( ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep grade (slope), slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to ...
in
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
, which runs between the
Territet
Territet (Montreux) is a locality which is part of the Montreux commune, in the Vaud canton, Switzerland.
Geography
Territet is located between the city center of Montreux and the village of Veytaux, within the municipality of Montreux, o ...
and
Glion
Glion () is a village in the municipality of Montreux in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The village is located 700 m.a.s.l., overlooking Lake Geneva.
The position of this village in Montreux and the Chauderon Gorge made it a touristic destin ...
suburbs of the town of
Montreux
Montreux (, ; ; ) is a Municipalities of Switzerland, Swiss municipality and List of towns in Switzerland, town on the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Swiss Alps, Alps. It belongs to the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut (district), Riviera-Pays ...
. At its upper terminus, the funicular connects with the
Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line
The Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line is an electrically operated rack railway in Switzerland with a track gauge of . The line connects the resort of Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, with the summit of the Rochers d ...
.
what was the lower terminus of the
Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye (GN) mountain railway, which opened in 1892. This later line was joined, in 1909, in an end on junction at Glion with the newly constructed
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion (MGl).
History
The line was opened in 1883, making it one of the oldest funiculars in Switzerland (the
Giessbachbahn
The Giessbach Funicular () is a historic funicular in the Swiss canton of Bern and municipality of Brienz. It links a landing stage on Lake Brienz, served by shipping services on the lake, to the Grand Hotel Giessbach and Giessbach Falls above ...
, opened in 1879, is the oldest). It was built to with two separate and adjacent tracks which
spread apart to allow passing at the halfway point. The stations had two
side platform
A side platform (also known as a marginal platform or a single-face platform) is a platform positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station, tram stop, or transitway. A station having dual side platforms, ...
s.
The
Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye opened a line from Rochers de Naye to Glion in 1892, connecting with the upper terminus of the funicular. In 1909, the
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion built from Glion to , completing the
Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line
The Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line is an electrically operated rack railway in Switzerland with a track gauge of . The line connects the resort of Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, with the summit of the Rochers d ...
. Those two railway companies merged in 1987 to become the
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye, and that company merged with the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet–Glion in 1992 to create the
Chemin de fer Montreux-Territet-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
Chemin or Le Chemin may refer to:
Arts and media
* ''Le Chemin'' (Emmanuel Moire album), 2013 album by French singer Emmanuel Moire
* ''Le Chemin'' (Kyo album), 2003 album by French band Kyo
** "Le Chemin" (song), title song from same-titled Kyo a ...
. That company, in turn, was one of four that merged in 2001 to create the
Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera
Transports may refer to:
* Military transport aircraft
* a Ministry of Transport
* Dow Jones Transportation Average
* ''The Transports
''The Transports'' is a folk ballad opera written by Peter Bellamy released by Free Reed Records in 1977. I ...
(MVR).
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
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
is used, the two rails opening at the halfway point to form a
passing loop
A passing loop (UK usage) or passing siding (North America) (also called a crossing loop, crossing place, refuge loop or, colloquially, a hole) is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at or near a station, where trains o ...
. 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
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.
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 elev ...
*
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 ...
*
Water counterbalancing
Notes
References
* Official documentation from the MOB
* Journal de Pays d'Enhaut, 1 October 2009
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Territet-Glion funicular railway
Territet-Glion, Chemin de fer funiculaire
Transport in the canton of Vaud
Former water-powered funicular railways converted to electricity
Metre-gauge railways in Switzerland
Railway lines opened in 1883
Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera lines