The Festungsbahn is a funicular railway providing public access to the Hohensalzburg Castle at Salzburg

Salzburg

-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...

 in Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

. It links the castle with Festungsgasse, under the north side of the castle walls. The Festungsbahn opened in 1892, and should not be confused with the much older Reisszug

Reisszug

The Reisszug is a private funicular railway providing goods access to the Hohensalzburg Castle at Salzburg in Austria...

 funicular that provides goods access to the castle.

History

The Festungsbahn opened in 1892 as a water balance funicular. The line was rebuilt with new cars and an electric drive in 1960, whilst the lower and upper stations were rebuilt in 1975 and 1976 respectively. In 1991 the line was again modernised, with the provision of new cars with an increased passenger capacity and a faster line speed. The line is operated by Salzburg AG, who also operate the city's buses and the Salzburger Lokalbahn.

Technical parameters

The line has the following technical parameters:

• Length: 198 metres (649.6 ft)
• Height: 98 metres (321.5 ft)
• Maximum Steepness: 62%
• Cars: 2
• Capacity: 48 passengers per car
• Configuration: Single track with passing loop
• Gauge: 1.04 metres (3.4 ft)
• Maximum speed: 5 m/s
• Journey time: 1 minute
• Traction: Electricity

External links

• Funimag article on the Festungsbahn