Pöstlingbergbahn, Mountain tramway in Linz, Austria
The Pöstlingbergbahn is an electric rack railway that connects central Linz to the elevated Pöstlingberg district. The route climbs a steep hillside using a specialized rail system and terminates in an area with open spaces and historic structures.
The railway opened in 1898 to transport visitors and pilgrims to the basilica in the hilltop district. A major modernization project in the early 2000s extended the line to the city center and added new stations.
The railway connects the city center to a district that locals use regularly for recreation and spiritual visits. People travel up the hill to access the zoo and the basilica, which have been gathering places for the community for a long time.
The trains run frequently between the city center and the upper district, with a journey taking about 10 minutes. Visitors should note that the line may not operate during severe weather, and the upper area can be snowy during colder months.
The line uses a rack system to navigate one of the steepest grades ever tackled by an adhesion railway. This technical feature makes every journey noteworthy for those interested in how older rail systems solved extreme engineering challenges.
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