Funiculars of Lyon

The Funiculars of Lyon (Funiculaires de Lyon) is a network of funicular railways in Lyon, France. Of the five lines once in existence, only the two routes on the Fourvière hill remain in operation, with the rest of the network now either closed, converted to road vehicle use, or integrated within the Lyon underground system.

History

No fewer than five funicular lines, nicknamed ficelles ("threads") were built.

• The first line opened in 1862 and linked Rue Terme and Boulevard de la Croix Rousse. The funicular was closed and converted to a road tunnel in 1968.
• The second line opened in 1891 and served the Butte de la Croix Rousse. The line was converted into a rack railway in 1972 and rebuilt and extended at both ends to become Line C of the Lyon Metro in 1978.
• The third line opened in 1878 linking Saint-Jean to Saint-Just with an intermediate station at Minimes, climbing the Fourvière hill. The line was converted to a rack railway in 1901 and back to a funicular in 1958.
• The fourth and fifth lines were opened in 1900, linking the Tour Metallique on Fourvière hill to Saint-Paul and the Basilica on Fourvière with Saint-Jean. The first was closed in 1937 and the second was modernised in 1970 with a change of gauge from 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) to 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 ³⁄₁₆ in). The Fourvière - Saint-Jean line is 431 metres (1,414 ft) long with a 30% incline.

Both lines still in service were modernised again in 1986 and 1987. A new station at Saint-Jean was built in 1991 to serve the new line  D  of the Metro and both funicular lines, and the whole complex named Vieux-Lyon.

Current lines

Route map

200px

F1 (Saint-Jean - Saint-Just)

File:Funiculaire Saint-Just - Vieux Lyon.JPG

Funicular 1 of Lyon at Vieux-Lyon - Cathédrale Saint-Jean station.

Saint-Jean - Saint-Just	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Length	791 metres (2,595 ft)
Height	91.2 metres (299 ft)
Number of stops	3
Fleet	2 funicular cars
Capacity	216 passengers
Length of journey	3 minutes 20 seconds
Opening times	05:00 to 24:00
Frequency of services	5 to 10 minutes

F2 (Saint-Jean - Fourvière)

File:Funiculaire Fourvière Von Roll n°2 TCL Vieux Lyon-Cathédrale Saint-Jean - Florian Fèvre.jpg

Funicular F2 at Vieux-Lyon - Cathédrale Saint-Jean station.

Saint-Jean - Fourvière	1,300 mm (4 ft 3 3⁄16 in)
Length	404 metres (1,325 ft)
Height	116 metres (381 ft)
Number of stops	2
Fleet	2 funicular cars
Capacity	70 passengers
Length of journey	2 minutes
Opening times	06:00 to 22:00
Frequency of services	5 to 10 minutes

Funicular cars in preservation

Funicular car n°1 is preserved at the AMTUIR. It operated on the single track line from Saint-Jean to the Basilique de Fourvière. The line it served on was modernised in 1970 and equipped with new cars.

The car was given to the AMTUIR (Musée des Transports Urbains) by the Transports en Commun de la Région Lyonnaise (TCRL) on 27 May 1970.

Tramcar n°11 data
Length	8.62 metres (28 ft 3 in)
Width	2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in)
Height	3.60 metres (11 ft 10 in)
Gross weight	6.2 t (6.1 long tons; 6.8 short tons)
Capacity	12/44
Current	By pantograph for lighting only.
Gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge

See also

• List of funicular railways

External links

• Plan of Lyon metro and funiculars
• Picture library of transport in Lyon