The funicular Biel-Leubringen has been completely modernized by Garaventa.

Leubringen in the Swiss canton of Bern is a suburb of the city of Biel/Bienne. The population of some 2,000 inhabitants is fairly evenly split between German and French speakers *1). Most of the residents commute to work in Biel. The funicular was inaugurated *2) in 1898 and the mid station in the Beaumont district (city of Biel) added in 1905. The cabins were replaced in 1909. In 1960, the funicular was automated and the wooden cabins were replaced by metal cabins for 80 passengers; the speed was now 5.0 m/s. A new, lownoise drive concept was introduced in 2003. Since then, an all-steel disk-pack coupling has been used to absorb the spring travel of the flexibly mounted main drive. The new, regulated service brake acts on the brake disk of the highspeed coupling. A 3-phase AC motor with forced ventilation is now used in the power unit.

Stations adapted for mobilityimpaired passengers, tracks and vehicles replaced

In summer 2009, Garaventa modernized the funicular once again. The stations were converted to make them suitable for mobility-impaired passengers, the tracks dating from the 19th century were replaced and the almost 50-yearold cabins made way for vehicles with generously proportioned windows and mono-wheel carriages. To check the clearance in the tunnels, a 1:1 template was constructed and mounted on one of the old cabins, which was then run along the full length of the line. The drive control system and the remote technical monitoring of the cabins are also new. The refurbishment work began in May 2009 and took four months. Passenger service was shut down from July 6 to August 28. (A half-hourly bus service was provided in replacement).

80-FUL Biel – Leubringen
Transport capacity 685 PPH
Trip time 4.0 min
Stopping time in stations 3 min
Speed 5.0 m/s
Carriers 2
Inclined length 920 m
Vertical rise 242 m
Drive 200 kW Top

1) For that reason the French name “Evilar” is commonly used.
2) Built by Von Roll Seilbahnen, which became part of the Doppelmayr Group in 1996