U-Bahn Serfaus

The U-Bahn Serfaus (until 2019 Dorfbahn Serfaus, lit. 'Serfaus Village Railway') is an underground air cushion people mover system in the Tyrolian village of Serfaus in Austria.

U-Bahn Serfaus
Seilbahn station
Overview
Locale	Serfaus, Austria
Transit type	Funicular
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	4
Operation
Began operation	14 December 1985; 39 years ago (1985-12-14)
Operator(s)	Seilbahn Komperdell GmbH
Technical
System length	1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Electrification	950 V AC OHLE
System map Seilbahn 1.3 km Zentrum 0.8 km Kirche 0.6 km Parkplatz 0.0 km

Overview

Serfaus is a busy ski resort, and during the season has to cater for large numbers of skiers. The slopes are accessed by a cable car and a gondola lift, whose lower stations are situated at one end of the village's main street. A large car park is located at the other end of this street, and the Dorfbahn connects the two, allowing the conversion of the village into a car-free zone. Besides the two terminal stations at Seilbahn (cable car) and Parkplatz (car park), there are two intermediate stations in the village centre.^[1]

The line was built in 1985 by the Freissler-Otis company, and began operation on 14 December that year, with its official opening taking place on 16 January the following year. It consists of a single, 1,280 m (4,200 ft) one-track line, with a single train operating on a shuttle basis. The train comprises two cars, is suspended on an air cushion, and is moved by a cable haulage system. The tunnel is 3.24 m (10.6 ft) wide and 3.52 m (11.5 ft) high. The train can carry 390 people, and travels at a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).^[2]

During the winter season the line operates between 07:45 and 18:45, and between 07:45 and 17:30 or 18:15 in the summer. A single journey takes 7 minutes, with the intermediate stations served only in the respective main load direction (in the morning toward Seilbahn, in the afternoon toward Parkplatz). The service is free of charge.^{[citation needed]}

Extensive renovations were carried out from 2016 to 2019, and the new train, manufactured by Leitner Ropeways, began operating in July 2019, almost doubling its passenger capacity.^[3]

Stations

Schematic network plan of the U-Bahn Serfaus

Station	km	Notes
Parkplatz	0.0	Parking area
Kirche	0.6	Church, town's centre
Zentrum	0.8	Formerly named Raika.[a] Bank, town centre
Seilbahn	1.3	Cable Car station

Route of U-Bahn Serfaus

Gallery

• 
  The terminal point of U-bahn tunnel
• 
  Parkplatz station
• 
  Internal platform screen doors at most stations (before renovation), with LED indicators
• 
  Glass platform screen doors at Seilbahn station, with LCD indicators
• 
  Interior of the old Otis train
• 
  Interior of the new Leitner train

Notes

1. Named after "Raiffeisen Bank", shortened as "Raika"