Innsbruck, Austria.The plans for the new funicular to the Hungerburg are approved by the authorities, but under several conditions (i.e. special fire extinguishing system in the tunnel sections, noise protection for dwellers in the vicinty of the new trace).
The 1,4km long funicular will start at the northern end of Innsbruck congress-center in a first tunnel section to the Loewenhaus station, crossing the Inn river on a suspension bridge, entering a second tunnel, leaving this tunnel east of the Weiherburg (with a station Alpenzoo on a approximatly 20m high tower) leading into the old Hungerburg funiculars trace via a 400m long curved steel bridge.
(Illustration Nordpark)
Unfortunately a direct connection with the towns centre (an the main tram-lines) is not possible due to plannings mistakes of the town. So the bottom station is separated by a 400m long (but nice) footwalk from the public transports main lines.
The funicular has got to stations underway, one near the Loewenhaus station, one near the Alpenzoo station. The halfway bypass it situated in the tunnel, but there is no station.
The longitudinal section of the funicular it remarkable, as there is a short section (in the Tunnel between the bridge and the Weiherburg) with counter-gradient. There special depression pulleys for the rope are needed. The section till the river is almost horizontal.
The funiculars cars are divided in separate cabins that are mounted moveable to the chassis frame. So all of the separate passengers cabins are horizontal at any place of the trace (so the system seems to be compareable to the Fun’ambule in Neuchatel).
All station buildings and the bridge are designed by the famous Iraqui architect Zaha Hadid. Especially the top station is an impressive landmark.
The new funicular is planned to start operation in spring 2007. Together with this venture the ropeways the the Seegrube and the Hafelecar will be modernized.
The cars will be built by Leitner.
(Illustration Nordpark)
The trace alignment ist planned bei ILF (“Ingenieurbüro Lösser -Feizlmair”, a large planning bureau near Innsbruck which is also planning sections of the Brenner-tunnel. The whole project (new funicular and renovation of the two sections of the ropeway) will cost between 51 and 70 million.
Length of the new funicular line: 1798m
(In orange: the new project, in red: the old Hungerburg Bahn)
Special thank to Martin Schönherr.