Montevergine funicular

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.

Montevergine funicular
Exterior of the lower station
Overview
StatusClosed
OwnerRegion of Campania
LocaleCampania, Italy
TerminiMercogliano
Montevergine
Stations2
Service
Services1
Operator(s)Autoservizi Irpini
History
Opened1956
Technical
Line length1,669 m (5,476 ft)
Maximum incline66%
The funicular in operation
Interior of the lower station

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 after a general overhaul, 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. After completion of track restoration and modernisation of the cars, the line reopened on 25 June 2016.[2][3]

Operation

The line is operated by the Autoservizi Irpini, the regional bus operator, and has the following parameters:[2][4]

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%

The line runs twice an hour on Sundays and public holidays, and every 45 minutes on other days. Service is provided between 09:00 and 17:00.[3]

See also

References
  1. "La funicolare di Montevergine" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  2. Cacozza, Marco (December 2012). "Mercogliano funicular closed again". Today's Railways Europe. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 17.
  3. Cacozza, Marco (September 2016). "Mercogliano funicular reopens". Today's Railways Europe. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 16.
  4. "Mercogliano - Monte Vergine". Funiculars.net. Pantograph.se. Retrieved 24 November 2012.



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