Kyiv Funicular, Funicular railway in central Kyiv, Ukraine
The Kyiv Funicular connects the Upper Town with the Lower Town across a steep slope above the Dnipr River. The two cars climb the grade at a measured pace, making the descent and rise in a total of less than four minutes.
The funicular opened in 1905, financed by a Belgian investor and engineered by Arthur Abrahamson. The construction set new standards for engineering of that period and demonstrated advanced technical solutions.
The name comes from the nearby St. Michael's Cathedral, which gave the line its original title. Locals today use the connection as a quick way to move between the upper and lower parts of the city.
The ride works well during wet or hot weather, as the cars are enclosed. Boarding happens at ground level at both endpoints.
The two cars display Cyrillic letters on their sides to distinguish them from each other. They meet midway at a passing loop where they slide past one another.
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