Montevergine funicular

Montevergine funicular

Exterior of the lower station
Overview
Status Closed
Locale Campania, Italy
Termini Mercogliano
Montevergine
Stations 2
Services 1
Operation
Opened 1956
Owner Region of Lombardy
Operator(s) Azienda Trasporti Milanesi
Technical
Line length 1,669 m (5,476 ft)
Track gauge (?)
Maximum incline 66%
The funicular in operation
Interior of the lower station

The Montevergine funicular (Italian: Funicolare di Montevergine) is a funicular railway that connects the town of Mercogliano with the mountain and catholic sanctuary of Montevergine, in Campania, Italy.

History

The idea of linking the shrine of Montevergine with the centre of Mercogliano via a funicular railway oringated in the nineteenth century, based on an idea of Abbot William De Cesare. By 1882 a third of the construction work had already been achieved, but as a result of economic problems and the outbreak of the First World War the work was interrupted. It was not until 1926 that the work was restarted, under the direction of Abbot Ramiro Marcone, who founded a company to complete the line. In 1929 the company, the property of the monastic community, changed its name to the Società Immobiliare Irpina, and obtained the concession to run the funicular for 50 years.[1]

The outbreak of World War II stopped the work once again, and the system was only opened only in 1956 by Abbot Anselm Ludovico Tranfaglia. In 1973, due to the ageing and deterioration of the line, the Ministry of Transport ordered the line to be closed for renovation, which lasted until the line reopened in 1981. In the meantime the 50 year concession had expired, and the line was purchased by the Region of Campania.[1]

The line reopened on 23 July 2012, but was again closed on the 13 October 2012, because of the need for unexpected maintenance and a lack the necessary funds, estimated at €1.5 million, to undertake it.[2]

Operation

The line is operated by the Autoservizi Irpini, the regional bus operator, and has the following parameters:[2][3]

Number of cars 2
Number of stops 2
Configuration Single track with passing loop
Track length 1,669 metres (5,476 ft)
Rise 734 metres (2,408 ft)
Maximum gradient 66%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "La funicolare di Montevergine" (in Italian). Archived from the original Check |url= value (help) on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 Cacozza, Marco (December 2012). "Mercogliano funicular closed again". Today's Railways Europe (Platform 5 Publishing Ltd). p. 17.
  3. ↑ "Mercogliano - Monte Vergine". Funiculars.net. Pantograph.se. Retrieved 2012-11-24.

External links


Coordinates: 40°55′24″N 14°44′40″E / 40.923213°N 14.74443°E / 40.923213; 14.74443

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