Fun'ambule Neuchatel - Presentation

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Fun'ambule

Presentation

Presentation

For non french speaking people I have to explain that the french word 'funambule' means a tightrope walker

Fun'ambule is the Christian name given to the new funicular of Neuchâtel.

It was built in a tunnel to link the lower part of the town, near the University, to the train station on the upper part.

The choice of the bottom station was criticized because it is some distance from the town centre. In fact it is a decision of the town transportation policy to create a new centre of attraction outside the actual town centre.

The inauguration ceremony of the Fun'ambule was on April 27th, 2001.

Unquestionably the main remarkable thing of this new cable railway is the unique design of the carriages. Designed by CWA, the carriages are composed of 4 articulated compartments which always remain horizontal however the gradient variation of the slope !

Neuchâtel and Bienne are both located on the first foothill of the Swiss Jura mountain and only 34 kilometers apart.
There are 6 funiculars between Neuchâtel and Bienne on the same foothill !
1) Ecluse - Plan
2) Fun'ambule
3) La Coudre - Chaumont
4) Ligerz - Tessenberg Bahn
5) Bienne - Macolin
6) Bienne - Evilard

One thing is remarkable, the Fun'ambule is a funicular which starts with a null gradient (0%) at the bottom station! This is very rare. Another example is the "Arc en ciel" at Bourg Saint Maurice (France).

Location

From the 15th May until 20th October 2002, the Swiss National Exhibition will take place in the Three Lakes Area.
See informations there ...

Fun'ambule