Montmartre funicular

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Year opened

1900

Last extension

—

Rolling stock

Stations served

Length

0.1 km

Length

0.06 mi

Average interstation

0.1 m

Journeys made

— (per annum)

Paris public transport

Métro lines
	line 1	line 7bis
	line 2	line 8
	line 3	line 9
	line 3bis	line 10
	line 4	line 11
	line 5	line 12
	line 6	line 13
	line 7	line 14

RER lines
	line A	line D
	line B	line E
	line C

Suburban rail (Transilien)
	Saint-Lazare	Nord
	La Défense	Est
	Montparnasse	Lyon

Airport shuttles
	CDGVAL	Orlyval

Bus
	Bus (RATP)	Noctilien
	Bus (Optile)
Tramway
	Tramway T1	Tramway T2
	Tramway T3	Tramway T4

Montmartre funicular railway, with a view over Paris

Upper station, with the Sacré-Cœur basilica behind

The Montmartre funicular is a funicular railway serving the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, France, in the Eighteenth arrondissement (district) of that city.

The funicular is an automatic two-cabin railway that allows passengers to ride directly from the base of the Montmartre butte to the top, near the base of the Sacré-Cœur basilica, and vice versa. It is operated by the RATP, the Paris Transport Authority, and was first opened on July 13, 1900, although the current funicular is a much more recent renovation.

[edit] The current funicular

Built by Akros, the current funicular is electric and entered service on June 1, 1991. It includes two independent cars with a capacity of 60 persons each. It can move 2000 persons per hour in each direction. A trip in either direction, which covers a vertical distance of 36 metres and a track distance of 108 metres, requires somewhat less than 90 seconds. The funicular provides an alternative to the multiple stairways of more than 300 steps that lead to the top of the butte.

The stations of the funicular at each terminus incorporate multiple transparent elements and were designed by architect François Deslaugiers. The cars, which feature large windows, were designed by stylist Roger Tallon (who also designed the trainsets of the TGV Atlantique). The roof of each car is partially made of glass, which allows passengers to admire the basilica as they are transported.

The technology of the funicular is derived from that of standard elevators, which allows each car to function independently, with its own hoist and cables. This allows one car to remain in service if the other must be taken out of service for maintenance.

[edit] History of the funicular

The funicular from a postcard posted in 1906

The Paris city government voted to construct the Montmartre funicular in 1891. Initially, operation of the funicular was subcontracted to Decauville through a concession that ended in 1931. Thereafter, the Société des transports en commun de la région parisienne (STCRP) took control, and this was nationalized after the liberation of Paris to form what ultimately became the RATP, which continues to operate the funicular today.

The original funicular was water powered, using a system of cisterns of five cubic metres each that were filled or emptied in order to move the cars and as a function of passenger load. In 1935, the system was converted to electricity. The funicular was completely rebuilt by the RATP in 1990-1991.

The funicular was shut down due to a minor accident during tests by the RATP in December of 2006. It reopened in July of 2007.

Coordinates: 48°53′07″N 2°20′33″E / 48.88528, 2.3425