Vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles

Vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles is a funicular above Lake Biel in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The line leads from Ligerz/Gléresse at 437 m (1,434 ft) to Prêles at 820 m (2,690 ft) on Tessenberg, a plateau part of the Jura range.^[2] The line has a length of 1,198 m (3,930 ft) with a difference of elevation of 383 m (1,257 ft) and a maximum incline of 40%.^[2] The single track funicular has had only one car since 2004,^[2] when the passing loop and the second car were removed. Two intermediate stations are Pilgerweg at 487 m (1,598 ft) and Festi/Château at 577 m (1,893 ft). The lower station is next to Ligerz railway station and a landing stage for Lake Biel passenger ships.

Vinifuni Ligerz-Prêles
car at intermediary station Festi/Château, Lake Biel in background, vineyard in the foreground (2021)
Overview
Other name(s)	Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse; Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn; Standseilbahn Ligerz-Prêles; Seilbahn Ligerz-Prêles (Tessenberg)
Status	In operation
Owner	Aare Seeland mobil AG (since 2003); Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse (1912–1997), Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn AG (LTB) (1997–2003)[note 1]
Locale	Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Termini	"Ligerz (Talstation)" at Bahnhofplatz / Dorfgasse 1 "Prêles" at Route de la Neuveville 1
Stations	4 (including "Pilgerweg", "Festi/Château")
Service
Type	Funicular (since 2004: lift)
Route number	2016 [1]
Operator(s)	Aare Seeland mobil AG (short: asm)
Rolling stock	1 for 50 passengers (since 2004); 2 for 60 each (1949–2004), 2 for 40 each (1912–1949)
History
Opened	8 June 1912 (113 years ago) (1912-06-08)
Concession	1906
Single-car, lift	18 May 2004 (2004-05-18)
Technical
Line length	1,198 m (3,930 ft)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrification	from opening
Operating speed	5.0 metres per second (16 ft/s)
Highest elevation	820 m (2,690 ft)
Maximum incline	40%

The line opened in 1910^[2] after the Swiss Federal Assembly granted a concession in 1906.^[3]

The funicular is owned and operated by Aare Seeland mobil AG since 2003.^[2] The railway company had absorbed Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn AG (LTB),^{[note 1]} founded in 1910 and initially named Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse.

• 
  lower station (2017)
• 
  former funicular car on bridge (2003)
• 
  car in the vineyards (2005)

Further reading

• Schweizer, Martin (2013), vinifuni Ligerz–Prêles – ehemalige Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn (in German), ISBN 978-3-907579-54-1
• Stoll, Heinz, 100 Jahre Vinifuni Ligerz-Prêles Ehemalige Ligerz-Tessenberg-Bahn LTB 1912-2012 (in German)

See also

• List of funicular railways
• List of funiculars in Switzerland

Notes

1. also Chemin de fer funiculaire Gléresse-Montagne de Diesse SA (LTB)