Gelmerbahn, Funicular railway in Bern, Switzerland
Gelmerbahn is a funicular railway in Canton Bern that runs from Handegg station to Lake Gelmer, rising 448 meters (1470 feet) through the mountains. The route follows steep rock walls, with the steepest section reaching a gradient of 106 percent.
The railway was built in 1926 for the construction and maintenance of a hydroelectric plant and served only industrial operations. In 2001 it opened to visitors, making the lake accessible to everyone.
The name comes from Lake Gelmer, a reservoir above the station that has been used for power generation for decades. Many hikers start their mountain tours here, following the narrow trails along the rock faces.
The railway operates from June to October during daylight and carries 24 passengers per car. Advance booking is necessary due to high demand, especially on weekends and during holiday months.
Unlike most funiculars that use two counterbalancing cars, only one car moves up and down on a fixed cable here. This design was necessary to handle the extreme gradient safely.
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