Funicular dos Guindais

Funicular dos Guindais

The funicular, with the Ponte Dom Luís I and Douro River in the background
Overview
Type Funicular
Status Operational
Coordinates 41°08′28″N 8°36′34″W / 41.141°N 8.60951°W / 41.141; -8.60951Coordinates: 41°08′28″N 8°36′34″W / 41.141°N 8.60951°W / 41.141; -8.60951
Operation
Opened 1891, 2004
Closed 1893
Owner Porto Metro
Technical
Line length 281 metres (922 ft)
No. of tracks Single track with passing loop
Route diagram
Legend
Length
(metres)
281 Batalha
191
140
0 Ribeira

The Funicular dos Guindais, or Guindais funicular railway, is a funicular railway in Porto, Portugal. The original line was constructed in 1891 but closed just two years later after a serious accident. As part of a larger initiative to improve the transport infrastructure of Porto, a new funicular was constructed on the same location and opened on 19 February 2004. The line runs down a steep cliff from Batalha (on the higher ground of central Porto) to the quayside at Ribeira.[1][2]

The funicular is single track, with a central passing loop, is 281 metres (922 ft) long, and descends 61 metres (200 ft). The upper 90 metres (295 ft) are in tunnel, and the section of the line below the passing loop has a markedly steeper gradient than the upper section. The two vehicles have a capacity of 25 persons each, and operate at a maximum speed of 5 metres per second (16.4 ft/s). Because of the variation in gradient along the line, the cars have self-levelling equipment which keep the car floor horizontal irrespective of the track gradient.[1]

Although the journey is short at approximately 3 minutes, after emerging from the tunnel at the top, descending passengers are given a panoramic view including the Dom Luís I Bridge, the quaysides of Ribeira and Cais de Gaia, the multitude of port wine lodges and traditional port boats on the Gaia side of the Douro River, and of course the river itself. Once at the bottom, tourists can either walk across the bridge on foot, join a river cruise or enjoy the restaurants and bars of Ribeira.

The service is also used by locals and commuters wishing to get from Ribeira and Cais de Gaia to the metro or train at São Bento without climbing the steep hill on foot. It runs from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, with services running until midnight on weekends and holidays. It is owned by the Porto Metro.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Funicular dos Guindais". POMA. Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  2. ↑ Abreu, Andreia. "Andar de elevador é caro!" [Lift is expensive!] (in Portuguese). Jornalismo Porto Net. Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-13.

External links

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