Biel–Magglingen Funicular

The Biel–Magglingen Funicular (German: Magglingenbahn; French: Funiculaire Bienne–Macolin) is a funicular railway in the bilingual city of Biel/Bienne in the Swiss canton of Bern. The funicular links Biel/Bienne at 435 m with Magglingen/Macolin at 873 m in the Jura mountains above the town.^[1] The line with a length of 1693 m has a maximum incline of 32% and a difference of elevation of 442 m. The funicular with two cars has a single track with a passing loop.

Biel–Magglingen Funicular
lower station (before 1910)
Overview
Other name(s)	Drahtseilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Seilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Funiculaire Bienne–Macolin; Standseilbahn Biel–Magglingen; Magglingenbahn
Status	In operation
Owner	Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (since 2014); FUNIC AG (2000-2013); Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen
Locale	Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
Termini	"Biel/Bienne Magglingenb.(Funi)" at Seevorstadt 21 "Magglingen/Macolin"
Stations	2
Service
Type	Funicular
Operator(s)	Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (short: VB/TPB)
Rolling stock	2
History
Opened	2 June 1887 (138 years ago) (1887-06-02)
Enhancements	1923, 1954, 2001, 2019
Technical
Track length	1,693 m (5,554 ft)
Number of tracks	1 with passing loop
Rack system	- (initially Riggenbach)
Electrification	1923 (water counterbalancing before)
Operating speed	6 metres per second (19.7 ft/s)
Maximum incline	32%

The line is owned and operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Biel/Transports publics biennois (short: VB/TPB) since 2014, when it absorbed "FUNIC AG" that also operated nearby Bienne–Evilard Funicular.^[1]Initially it was built by Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen in 1887.

The funicular isn't operating in spring 2023.^[2]

Operation

The line has the following parameters:^[1]

Feature	Value
Number of cars	2
Number of stops	2 (at terminals)
Configuration	Single track with passing loop
Track length	1,693 metres (5,554 ft)
Track gauge	(?)
Rise	442 metres (1,450 ft)
Maximum gradient	32%
Maximum speed	6 metres per second (19.7 ft/s)
Travel time	9 minutes

See also

• List of funicular railways
• List of funiculars in Switzerland

Gallery

• 
  Car dating from 2001
• 
  Bridge just above the lower station
• 
  Share certificate of Drahtseilbahn-Gesellschaft Biel-Magglingen, issued 5. October 1886