Thonon-les-Bains funicular
It links the city center to the Rives harbour since 1888.
Conceived by the engineer Auguste Alesmonières, inaugurated on Easter Monday, April 2th, 1888, Thonon funicular was built to overcome some of the communication difficulties between the city and the harbour. During its existence, the funicular has always been operational.
The funicular was only episodically stopped for various technical or political reasons. It was renovated on three occasions: in 1951, then in 1989 (to modernize its mechanism) and recently in 2010.
The total length of the line is 230 meters, including 86.8 meters of curves.
It’s the only funicular in the world with a crossing in a curve. Each vehicle can carry 53 passengers.
Data sheet
| Administrative | |
| Station | THONON LES BAINS |
| Firm number | 740003 |
| Category | FUN-Funiculaire |
| Name | FUN Rives-Thonon |
| Opening year | 1990 |
| Last refurbishment year | 1990 |
| Operator | SA Transports agglo Thonon |
| Main manufacturer | SKIRAIL |
| Authorized up traffic | 1582 p/h |
| Authorized down traffic | 1582 p/h |
| Uphill operating speed | 3.0 m/s |
| Downhill operating speed | 3.0 m/s |
| Technical | |
| Altitude difference | 46.0 m |
| Lower station elevation | 377 m |
| Upper station elevation | 423 m |
| Developed lenght | 243.0 m |
| Horizontal length | 218 m |
| Spacing | 0.0 |
| Maximum gradient (%) | 20 % |
| Average gradient | 21,1 |
| Theoretical operating speed | 3.03 m/s |
| Theroretical up traffic | 1600 p/h |
| Theoretical down traffic | 1600 p/h |
| Motor cab position | Uphill |
| Cable | |
| Installation year | 2006 (2006 original) |
| Function | Uphill haul rope |
| Position | Uphill |
| Manufacturer | TREFILEUROPE |
| Ultimate strength (UTS) | 24945.0 DecaN |
| Diameter | 19.5 mm |
| Electrical | |
| Main engine type | Continuous |
| Engine power | |