Gornergratbahn
| Gornergrat Bahn | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Summit station with observatory | |||
| Operation | |||
| Owner | BVZ Holding | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 9.339 km (5.803 mi) | ||
| No. of tracks |
Single track | ||
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)[1][2] | ||
| Electrification |
725 V, 50 Hz, 3-phase,[1][2] 2 Overhead lines[1] | ||
| Highest elevation | 3,089 m (10,135 ft) | ||
| Rack system | Abt[1][2] | ||
| |||
The Gornergratbahn, or Gornergrat Bahn (English: Gornergrat Railway) (GGB), is a nine-kilometre metre-gauge mountain rack railway, with Abt rack system. It leads from Zermatt, Switzerland (1,604 m or 5,262 ft), up to the Gornergrat railway station (3,089 m or 10,135 ft) on the Gornergrat. It is the second highest railway in Europe after the Jungfrau, although it is the highest open-air railway of the continent. The Gornergrat is a starting point for many hikes, as it lies surrounded by 29 peaks rising above 4,000 m (13,123 ft) in the Alps and several glaciers, including the Gorner Glacier (which is billed as the second longest glacier in the Alps). At the end of the line on Gornergrat, the Matterhorn is visible on a clear day. It is also a popular skiing area.
Overview
Work on the railway started in 1896, and it opened on August 20, 1898, for summer-only operation. Year-round operation to the summit began in 1942. The upper terminal was remodelled in 2004. The Gornergratbahn has always been electrified, and is one of four lines in the world using three-phase electric power. This requires two overhead conductors, with the track forming the third conductor.
The entire line is 9,339 m (30,640 ft) in length, including 3,790 m (12,434 ft) of double track, and traverses an altitude difference of 1,469 m (4,820 ft). The railway typically operates two-railcar units that can carry approximately 2,400 people per hour from Zermatt to the mountain summit. The railway is owned by the BVZ Holding and under common management with the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn.
Route
There are several stops on the line:[3][4]
| Station | Km | Amsl | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt | 0.00 |
1,604 |
Link to Matterhorn Gotthard Railway Link to Sunnegga Funicular |
| Zermatt Findelbach | 1.75 |
1,770 |
|
| Landtunnel | 3.20 |
2,080 |
Limited service |
| Riffelalp | 4.03 |
2,210 |
With a five-star hotel, link to Riffelalptram |
| Riffelboden | 5.10 |
2,348 |
Freight station |
| Riffelberg | 6.47 |
2,582 |
With a three-star hotel |
| Rotenboden | 7.91 |
2,819 |
|
| Gornergrat | 9.34 |
3,089 |
With a three-star hotel and observatory |
Riffelalptram
The Riffelalptram (RiT) is a short (675.31 m) tramway line that links Riffelalp station to the Riffelalp Resort. It works only from June to October and the track gauge is 800 mm (2 ft 7 1⁄2 in).[5]
Gallery
-
Above Riffelberg
-
Summit station; the train has two pantographs for the three-phase power-supply
-
Riffelalp intermediate station. In the left, beside station building, the track of the Riffelalptram
-
Gornergrat station building
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Buckley, Richard (2000). Tramways and Light Railways of Switzerland and Austria (2nd edition), p. 86. Gloucester, UK: Light Rail Transit Association. ISBN 0-948106-27-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harris, Ken (Ed.) (2001). Jane's World Railways 2001–2002 (43rd edition), p. 352. Coulsdon, Surrey (UK): Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2335-5.
- ↑ Gornergratbahn timetable
- ↑ Gornergratbahn timetable (PDF)
- ↑ Riffealptram on Riffelalp Resort website
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gornergratbahn. |
- Gornergratbahn official website (English version)
Coordinates: 46°01′25″N 7°44′59″E / 46.02361°N 7.74972°E