Chiaia Funicular
Encyclopedia
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The Chiaia Funicular (Italian
: Funicolare Chiaia) is a funicular
railway line that forms part of the Metropolitana di Napoli
(Napoli Metro), which is the main part of the metro system for the city of Naples
, Italy
. Opened in 1889, the Chiaia Funicular is one of the oldest funicular railways in the world, and carries over half a million passengers per year.
The Chiaia Funicular connects 4 stations, Chimarosa Station, Palazzolo Station, Corso Vittorio Emanuele Station, and Regina Magherita Station, primarily connecting Piazza Vanvitelli at the top of Vomero
Hill to Rione Amadeo. The Chiaia line connects with Line 1, and the Central Funicular at Via Cimarosa, and with Line 2 at Via Regina Margherita. At Chimarosa the Chiaia is connected by a subway, permitting access to the Metropolitana di Napoli
(Naples Metro) without having to reach the street surface.
hill area to the northwest of Naples
began to expand as a new residential area. Because of the steep incline of the hill it was difficult to access though. As a result, construction soon began on both the Chiaia and Montesanto Funicular cable railways. A local engineering firm, Le Officine Nazionali di Savigliano was granted the tender for all engineering, electronic and mechanical work on the line. Nearly 300 metres shorter than the Montesanto inclien, the Chiaia Funicular was the first to be completed, opening to the public on 15 October 1889, and making it the third oldest funicular
railway in the world. Only the Giessbachbahn
in Switzerland (1879), and the Telegraph Hill Railroad in San Francisco, USA (1886), are older.
For the first eleven years of operation, the Chiaia funicular was powered by Heacher Wyss steam engines, but in 1900 the line became electrified. The new twin-electric engines, provided by Brown Boveri & Co, gave 135 horsepower each, and greatly improved efficiency. In 1914 the original cars were replaced after 25 years of service, and two years later, in 1916, a third station, Palazzolo was inaugurated on the line. Until 1926 it only operated three stops, with the opening of Palazzolo Station (Parco Marcolini), delayed due to difficulty in accessing the area in which its construction was planned. OTIS elevators were included in its design to improve access to the platform at this station.
With the fourth planned station finally fully operational by 1926, the line had finally been completed as planned, 37 years after it had first opened. The opening of Palazzolo Station was the last change to the line for the next fifty years. The Chiaia line was not affected by either of the world wars, and continued to operate throughout both conflicts. In 1975 Azienda Tranvie Autofilovie Napoletane (ATAN - Neapolitan Light Rail Company) replaced the Società Ferrovie del Vomero (Vomero Train Society) as the operator of the line. Having reviewed its condition, in 1976 the entire line was overhauled and upgraded. A major modernisation programmed was begun, with Giustino Costruzioni given responsibility for the engineering works, Officine Mecchaniche Agudio carrying out electronic and mechanical work, Lovisolo constructing brand new cars, B.M.B. installing new modern electrical controls, and Fitre (later replaced by Holtz) undertaking transmission and safety work.
The refurbished Chiaia Funicular reopened to the public on 22 September 1977, although accusations of inadequate engineering works were levelled at the contractors, and these problems were not finally rectified until 2004. In 1995 the line's operator, ATAN, was rebranded as Azienda Napoletana Mobilità
(ANM - Neapolitan Mobility Agency), and in 1998, further works were carried out to again modernise the line. In February 2001 ANM was replaced by Metronapoli
as the new operator of the line, and continues its management to the present. By 2003 the latest upgrade works had been completed and that work saw the line completely restored and brought up to adequate European safety standards. It also resulted in all of the stations being redone in Art Nouveau
style, restoring the line to its former splendor.
, at an average gradient of 29%. The carriages travel at an average speed of 7.5 metres per second, and the entire route takes three minutes, and eight seconds. Each train can carry 300 passengers at a time, giving a total capacity of 9,500 passengers per hour in each direction, although this capacity is never reached.
The Chiaia Funicular (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Funicolare Chiaia) is a funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
railway line that forms part of the Metropolitana di Napoli
Metropolitana di Napoli
Metropolitana di Napoli is the metro system serving the city of Naples, Italy. The system includes three underground rapid transit lines and commuter railways , with planned upgrading and expansion work underway...
(Napoli Metro), which is the main part of the metro system for the city of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Opened in 1889, the Chiaia Funicular is one of the oldest funicular railways in the world, and carries over half a million passengers per year.
The Chiaia Funicular connects 4 stations, Chimarosa Station, Palazzolo Station, Corso Vittorio Emanuele Station, and Regina Magherita Station, primarily connecting Piazza Vanvitelli at the top of Vomero
Vomero
Vomero is a central district of Naples, with a population of about 48,000.-Geography:Vomero is a hilly and heavily urbanized area in the center of Naples...
Hill to Rione Amadeo. The Chiaia line connects with Line 1, and the Central Funicular at Via Cimarosa, and with Line 2 at Via Regina Margherita. At Chimarosa the Chiaia is connected by a subway, permitting access to the Metropolitana di Napoli
Metropolitana di Napoli
Metropolitana di Napoli is the metro system serving the city of Naples, Italy. The system includes three underground rapid transit lines and commuter railways , with planned upgrading and expansion work underway...
(Naples Metro) without having to reach the street surface.
History
In the second half of the 19th century, the VomeroVomero
Vomero is a central district of Naples, with a population of about 48,000.-Geography:Vomero is a hilly and heavily urbanized area in the center of Naples...
hill area to the northwest of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
began to expand as a new residential area. Because of the steep incline of the hill it was difficult to access though. As a result, construction soon began on both the Chiaia and Montesanto Funicular cable railways. A local engineering firm, Le Officine Nazionali di Savigliano was granted the tender for all engineering, electronic and mechanical work on the line. Nearly 300 metres shorter than the Montesanto inclien, the Chiaia Funicular was the first to be completed, opening to the public on 15 October 1889, and making it the third oldest funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
railway in the world. Only the Giessbachbahn
Giessbachbahn
The Giessbachbahn is a historic funicular at Giessbach in the Swiss Canton of Berne. It links a landing stage on Lake Brienz, served by shipping services on the lake, to the Grand Hotel Giessbach and waterfall above...
in Switzerland (1879), and the Telegraph Hill Railroad in San Francisco, USA (1886), are older.
For the first eleven years of operation, the Chiaia funicular was powered by Heacher Wyss steam engines, but in 1900 the line became electrified. The new twin-electric engines, provided by Brown Boveri & Co, gave 135 horsepower each, and greatly improved efficiency. In 1914 the original cars were replaced after 25 years of service, and two years later, in 1916, a third station, Palazzolo was inaugurated on the line. Until 1926 it only operated three stops, with the opening of Palazzolo Station (Parco Marcolini), delayed due to difficulty in accessing the area in which its construction was planned. OTIS elevators were included in its design to improve access to the platform at this station.
With the fourth planned station finally fully operational by 1926, the line had finally been completed as planned, 37 years after it had first opened. The opening of Palazzolo Station was the last change to the line for the next fifty years. The Chiaia line was not affected by either of the world wars, and continued to operate throughout both conflicts. In 1975 Azienda Tranvie Autofilovie Napoletane (ATAN - Neapolitan Light Rail Company) replaced the Società Ferrovie del Vomero (Vomero Train Society) as the operator of the line. Having reviewed its condition, in 1976 the entire line was overhauled and upgraded. A major modernisation programmed was begun, with Giustino Costruzioni given responsibility for the engineering works, Officine Mecchaniche Agudio carrying out electronic and mechanical work, Lovisolo constructing brand new cars, B.M.B. installing new modern electrical controls, and Fitre (later replaced by Holtz) undertaking transmission and safety work.
The refurbished Chiaia Funicular reopened to the public on 22 September 1977, although accusations of inadequate engineering works were levelled at the contractors, and these problems were not finally rectified until 2004. In 1995 the line's operator, ATAN, was rebranded as Azienda Napoletana Mobilità
ANM (Naples)
Azienda Napoletana Mobilità SpA , more commonly known simply as ANM, is a municipally controlled public company that is the primary provider of surface public transportation in the city of Naples, Italy, and also provides a portion of the surface transit service in surrounding municipalities...
(ANM - Neapolitan Mobility Agency), and in 1998, further works were carried out to again modernise the line. In February 2001 ANM was replaced by Metronapoli
Metronapoli
Metronapoli SpA is an Italian company responsible for the provision of public transport in the city of Naples, and its primary function is the operation and maintenance of the Naples Metro system. It was founded on 26 July 2000 and became operational on 1 February 2001...
as the new operator of the line, and continues its management to the present. By 2003 the latest upgrade works had been completed and that work saw the line completely restored and brought up to adequate European safety standards. It also resulted in all of the stations being redone in Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style, restoring the line to its former splendor.
Operation
The Chiaia Funicular carries over half a million passengers annually, with an average of 15,000 passengers on workdays, but this is reduced to an average of 5,000 on weekends and holidays. From the top to bottom the line is 536 metres long, and descends 161 metres in altitudeAltitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
, at an average gradient of 29%. The carriages travel at an average speed of 7.5 metres per second, and the entire route takes three minutes, and eight seconds. Each train can carry 300 passengers at a time, giving a total capacity of 9,500 passengers per hour in each direction, although this capacity is never reached.
Stations
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See also
- List of Naples metro stations
- List of rapid transit systems
- List of funicular railways