Jungfraubahn
Encyclopedia
The Jungfraubahn is an gauge rack railway
electrified at 3-phase 1,125 volt
s 50 Hertz
, which runs 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg
to the highest railway station in Europe
at Jungfraujoch
. The railway runs almost entirely within a tunnel built into the Eiger
and Mönch
mountains and contains two stations in the middle of the tunnel, where passengers can disembark to observe the neighbouring mountains through windows built into the mountainside.
The JB is under the management of the Jungfraubahn Holding company, which also comprises the Wengener Alp Bahn
(WAB) which links to the JB at Kleine Scheidegg and has two routes down the mountain, to Lauterbrunnen
and Grindelwald
, from where the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) connects to the Federal Railways
at Interlaken
.
Valley to the Jungfraujoch
could be realised without disturbing the unique landscape of the UNESCO
World Heritage site
.
The attractiveness of the cogwheel railway should thus be enhanced, as guests could use the fast lift for the uphill or downhill journey. Through a marked reduction in travelling time, the trip to the Jungfraujoch
could also become a half-day excursion.
es carrying 230 per train which operate at 12.5 km/h on the steepest parts of the ascent. The motors function at two speeds which allows the units to operate at double this speed on the less steep part of the ascent (above Eismeer station).
The motors will operate in a regenerative mode which allows the trains to generate electricity during the descent which is fed back into the power distribution system. Approximately 50% of the energy required for an ascent is recovered during the descent. It is this generation that regulates the descent speed.
Snow clearing equipment is essential on the open section of line between Kleine Scheidegg railway station
and Eigergletscher railway station
. Originally snow ploughs were used but more recently snow blowing equipment has been brought into service.
The railway also operates some dedicated freight vehicles to supply the visitor facilities at Jungfraujoch
, including a tank to transport additional water.
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
electrified at 3-phase 1,125 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s 50 Hertz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
, which runs 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
to the highest railway station in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
. The railway runs almost entirely within a tunnel built into the Eiger
Eiger
The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
and Mönch
Mönch
The Mönch is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland. Together with the Eiger and the Jungfrau it forms a highly recognisable group of mountains visible from far away....
mountains and contains two stations in the middle of the tunnel, where passengers can disembark to observe the neighbouring mountains through windows built into the mountainside.
The JB is under the management of the Jungfraubahn Holding company, which also comprises the Wengener Alp Bahn
Wengernalpbahn
Wengernalpbahn is a 19.091 km long, gauge rack railway line in Switzerland, which runs from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg, making it the world's longest continuous rack and pinion railway....
(WAB) which links to the JB at Kleine Scheidegg and has two routes down the mountain, to Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
, from where the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) connects to the Federal Railways
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
at Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
.
History
- 1860 (approximately) - there were many different plans for a mountain railway on the JungfrauJungfrauThe Jungfrau is one of the main summits in the Bernese Alps, situated between the cantons of Valais and Bern in Switzerland...
, which failed due to financial problems. - 1894 the industrialist Adolf Guyer-ZellerAdolf Guyer-ZellerAdolf Guyer-Zeller was a Swiss entrepreneur.He was the son of an owner of spinning mill and creator of a textile export trade in Zürich. After the death of his father, he led the company...
received a concession for a rack railway, which began from the Kleine Scheidegg railway stationKleine Scheidegg railway stationKleine Scheidegg railway station serves the mountain pass tourist attraction of Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is on the Wengernalpbahn and the beginning of the Jungfraujochbahn....
of the WengernalpbahnWengernalpbahnWengernalpbahn is a 19.091 km long, gauge rack railway line in Switzerland, which runs from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg, making it the world's longest continuous rack and pinion railway....
(WAB), with a long tunnel through the EigerEigerThe Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
and MönchMönchThe Mönch is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland. Together with the Eiger and the Jungfrau it forms a highly recognisable group of mountains visible from far away....
up to the summit of the JungfrauJungfrauThe Jungfrau is one of the main summits in the Bernese Alps, situated between the cantons of Valais and Bern in Switzerland...
.
- 1896 construction began. The construction work proceeded briskly.
- 1898 the Jungfraubahn opened as far as the Eigergletscher railway stationEigergletscher railway stationEigergletscher railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Gallery:...
, at the foot of the EigerEigerThe Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
. - 1899 Six workers are killed in an explosion. There is a 4 month strike by workers. Adolf Guyer-ZellerAdolf Guyer-ZellerAdolf Guyer-Zeller was a Swiss entrepreneur.He was the son of an owner of spinning mill and creator of a textile export trade in Zürich. After the death of his father, he led the company...
dies in ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on 3 April. The section from Eigergletscher to Rotstock opens on 2 August - 1903 The section from Rotstock to Eigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
opens on 28 June. - 1905 The section from EigernordwandEigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
to Eismeer railway stationEismeer railway stationEismeer railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
opens on 25 July - 1908 There is an explosion at Eigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
station. - 1912 21 February sixteen years after works commenced the tunneling crew finally broke through the glacier in Jungfraujoch. The station at JungfraujochJungfraujoch railway stationJungfraujoch railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.At above sea level, this is the highest railway station in Europe. It serves the Jungfraujoch....
was inaugurated on 1 August. - 1924 The JungfraujochJungfraujochThe Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
house "The house above the clouds" is opened on 14 September. - 1931 The research station at the JungfraujochJungfraujochThe Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
is opened. - 1937 The Sphinx Observatory is opened. A snowblower is purchased and this results in year-round operation.
- 1942 Relocation of the company offices from ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to InterlakenInterlakenInterlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
. - 1950 The dome is installed on the Sphinx Observatory.
- 1951 The adhesion section between Eismeer railway stationEismeer railway stationEismeer railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
and Jungfraujoch railway stationJungfraujoch railway stationJungfraujoch railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.At above sea level, this is the highest railway station in Europe. It serves the Jungfraujoch....
is converted to rack operation. - 1955 A second depot at Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
is constructed. The post office inaugurates its relay station on the JungfraujochJungfraujochThe Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
. - 1972 The panoramic windows are installed at Eigerwand and Eismeer. The JungfraujochJungfraujochThe Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
mountain house and tourist house are destroyed by fire on 21 October. - 1975 A new tourist house is opened.
- 1987 A new mountain house is opened on 1 August.
- 1991 A new station hall is opened at the Jungfraujoch.
- 1993 The small Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
depot is extended. - 1996 The covered observation deck at the Sphinx Observatory is opened.
- 1997 For the first time the annual visitor numbers exceed 500,000.
- 2000 On 1 June a daily record number of 8,148 visitors is received.
Stations
- Kleine ScheideggKleine Scheidegg railway stationKleine Scheidegg railway station serves the mountain pass tourist attraction of Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is on the Wengernalpbahn and the beginning of the Jungfraujochbahn....
, 2061 m (6,761.8 ft) - EigergletscherEigergletscher railway stationEigergletscher railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Gallery:...
, 2320 m (7,611.5 ft) - EigernordwandEigernordwand railway stationEigernordwand railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
, 2864 m (9,396.3 ft) - EismeerEismeer railway stationEismeer railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
, 3158 m (10,360.9 ft) - JungfraujochJungfraujoch railway stationJungfraujoch railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.At above sea level, this is the highest railway station in Europe. It serves the Jungfraujoch....
, 3454 m (11,332 ft)
2008 Proposals
In early 2008, Jungfraubahn Holding AG announced it is exploring the futuristic idea of an efficient fast form of access to the Jungfraujoch as an addition to the rack railway. A feasibility study has been commissioned. The additional access would be the world's longest tunnel-lift system. The study is to show if and how such a tunnel-lift system - for example as a fast lift or funicular - from the LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
Valley to the Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
could be realised without disturbing the unique landscape of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
The attractiveness of the cogwheel railway should thus be enhanced, as guests could use the fast lift for the uphill or downhill journey. Through a marked reduction in travelling time, the trip to the Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
could also become a half-day excursion.
Rolling stock
Since most of the railway is inside a tunnel, it was designed to run with electricity from conception. The latest rolling stock consists of twin-unit motorcoachRailcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
es carrying 230 per train which operate at 12.5 km/h on the steepest parts of the ascent. The motors function at two speeds which allows the units to operate at double this speed on the less steep part of the ascent (above Eismeer station).
The motors will operate in a regenerative mode which allows the trains to generate electricity during the descent which is fed back into the power distribution system. Approximately 50% of the energy required for an ascent is recovered during the descent. It is this generation that regulates the descent speed.
Snow clearing equipment is essential on the open section of line between Kleine Scheidegg railway station
Kleine Scheidegg railway station
Kleine Scheidegg railway station serves the mountain pass tourist attraction of Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is on the Wengernalpbahn and the beginning of the Jungfraujochbahn....
and Eigergletscher railway station
Eigergletscher railway station
Eigergletscher railway station is a station on the Jungfraubahn in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Gallery:...
. Originally snow ploughs were used but more recently snow blowing equipment has been brought into service.
The railway also operates some dedicated freight vehicles to supply the visitor facilities at Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
, including a tank to transport additional water.
Main Characteristics
| Altitude of top station above Sea Level | 3454 m |
|---|---|
| Difference in height | 1393 m |
| Operational length | 9.3 km |
| Gauge | |
| Rack rail type | Strub |
| Operational Speed | 12.5 km/h (25 km/h on shallower gradients such as above Eismeer) |
| Steepest gradient | 25% |
| Smallest curve radius | 100 m |
| Tunnels | 3: longest 7122 m, shortest 110 m. 80% of length of the entire railway. |
| Power system | 3-phase 50Hz 1125Volt |