Funiculaire Saint-Imier – Mont-Soleil

Funiculaire Saint-Imier - Mont-Soleil
aerial view (1930)
Overview
Other name(s)Funisolaire;
Chemin de fer funiculaire Saint-Imier - Sonnenberg;
Funiculaire du Sonnenberg;
Sonnenbergbahn
StatusIn operation
OwnerFuniculaire Saint-Imier - Mont-Soleil SA
LocaleSaint-Imier, Switzerland
Termini
  • St-Imier (funiculaire) at Rue des Roches 31
  • Mont-Soleil (funiculaire)
Stations2
Websitefunisolaire.ch
Service
TypeFunicular
Operator(s)Funiculaire Saint-Imier - Mont-Soleil SA
Rolling stock1 for 60 persons (since 2003); 2 (before, for 54 persons in 1969)
History
Opened10 August 1903 (1903-08-10)
Technical
Line length743 m (2,438 ft); before 2003: 728 m (2,388 ft)
Number of tracks1 (before 2003: with passing loop)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Operating speed5 metres per second (16 ft/s); before 2003: 2.5 metres per second (8.2 ft/s)
Highest elevation1,179 metres (3,868 ft) (since 2003)
Maximum incline60% (min. 39%)

Funiculaire Saint-Imier – Mont-Soleil is a funicular railway in the Jura Mountains, Switzerland. The line leads from the village of Saint-Imier at 828 m to the station Mont-Soleil at 1179 m, on Mont Soleil (1291 m). The line of 743 m in length has a difference of elevation of 351 m at a maximum inclination of 60%.

Built in 1903 as a single-track line with two cars and a passing loop, the track was lengthened and converted to a single car operation in 2003. The line includes several bridges and a tunnel.

The base station is ca. 800 m from St-Imier railway station.

The railway is owned and operated by Funiculaire Saint-Imier - Mont-Soleil SA.