Bretaye, Rail mountain pass in canton Vaud, Switzerland.
Bretaye is a rail line through the Swiss Alps that climbs from Bex through Villars-sur-Ollon to reach 1804 meters elevation. The route combines a standard adhesion railway for the lower section with a steep cog railway section that handles the mountain's toughest grades.
The line was built in three phases between 1897 and 1911, gradually connecting Bex to Villars-sur-Ollon and then Bretaye. This step-by-step development opened up the mountain communities of the region to improved transport.
The railway system integrates with local transportation networks, allowing residents and visitors to access multiple Swiss mountain communities throughout the year.
You change trains at Villars-sur-Ollon between the lower section and the steep cog railway section. Because the line runs year-round, you can ride in most weather, though conditions at the top can shift quickly and demand proper dress.
The railway relies on the Abt cog system across more than 7 kilometers to handle the extreme slope. This technical solution made the route historically possible where a standard rail line could never work.
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