Kiev Funicular

The funicular Kiev (Ukrainian Київський фунікулер / Kyjiwskyj funikuler ) connects the Kyiv City Parts PO district in the lower town ( Podil ) and Mikhailovsky district over a length of 238 meters and with a slope of 36 percent with a height difference of 75 meters. The gear-driven car has been in operation in 1905, replacing a 1892 furnished tram line, which led to the town center on a long distance from the shore of the Dnieper.

History

Already in the mid-19th century, the idea of ​​connecting the buildings on the Wladimirberg with the existing near the shore factories, docks and residential buildings by a lift system together was born. Engineer Artur Abrahamson, who had received his education in Switzerland, wearing the Kyiv City Council in 1883 before the first concrete plans. After long and sometimes heated discussions, including the construction of a funicular was decided. With the development of concrete plans, the project engineers Piatnitsky and Baryshnikov were commissioned. Between 1902 and 1905 could by specialists a single track in the track gauge 1000 mm are built with a passing loop and two railway stations ( pavilion) to the respective terminals. The track system has been carried out on reinforced concrete pillars, which had been developed at the beginning of the 20th century, just as a novel building material. The drive was carried out using built at the mountain station electric motors. The first two cars were manufactured in Switzerland, consisted mainly of wood and framed each 65 persons. The construction costs are specified with the then 230,000 Russian rubles. The plant is considered to be the first built in the later Soviet territory funicular.

On May 7, 1905, the opening of a " Mikhailovsky Mechanical Lift" was ( Михайлівський механічний підйом ) designated transport device, a ride lasted three minutes. Just one day later, the 22.000ste passenger is counted!

As the operator initially acted the Belgian corporation, which had brought the first trams in Kiev for use.

In the course of its existence, the web has been repeatedly renewed and expanded and technically. In 1928 the valley station could be extended by 38 meters down to the post office place. Since 1958, cars are in steel construction in use, which means the letter Λ ( = l for left) and П (p = for right) are marked and thus always remain at the meeting place on the same page. Similarly, the drive motors and thresholds had to be replaced. 1984, a comprehensive reconstruction of the pavilion has been made that were designed completely enclosed and Art Nouveau -like. The last work was carried out in autumn 2006.

The funicular in the 21st century

The railway is operated by the company " Киевпасстранс " (Kiev Pass Trans) and reversed at short intervals in the opposite mode. The four-level cars have doors on both sides for separate entry and exit. The operation is done manually from the navigation station, a ride still takes 2.5 to 3 minutes. All single tickets for public transport cost uniformly converted about 20 euro cents (as of summer 2010). On average for the railway transported 2.8 million passengers, including many tourists.

External links and sources

• Detailed information about the Kiev funicular; translated with google help in German; Original: "My Kiev" (English)
• Funikular in " Kiev Enzyklopedy " (en, ru ukr ) with a picture from 1953
• Photos of Kiev Funicular (English)