Trieste–Opicina tramway

The tram Trieste- Opicina (Italian Tranvia or Trenovia di Opicina triestinisch Tram de Opcina, Slovenian Openski tramvaj ) is a 5.175 km long northern Italian Regional tramway. A special feature of the trams overcome the steepest section of the trail via a funicular. The narrow gauge railway is operated by Trieste Trasporti since 2001 and connects the port city of Trieste with the suburb Opicina. Previous operators were the Società Anonima piccole Ferrovie (1902-1961) and the Azienda Trasporti Consorziale ( 1961-2001 ). The mountain railway to Opicina was licensed as a local train and was both operationally entrepreneurial always independent of the previous tram Trieste - this was standard gauge and perverse 1876-1970 The Tranvia di Opicina is now integrated as line 2 in the network of urban bus routes. at times the standard gauge tram it wrong, however, even without line number.

Route

The tram starts from Piazza Oberdan, which is just above sea level in the northern center of Trieste. On their journey to the center of Opicina the car climbs 340 meters in altitude. The Adhäsionsstrecke has a maximum slope of eight percent, the 799 meter long steep section between the stations Piazza Scorcola and Vetta Scorcola of 26 percent. The height of 160 meters between the two stations can be overcome with the help of a funicular. The uphill traveling tramcar is made ​​to do so at the valley station of Piazza Scorcola front of the lower carriage of funicular, the downhill driving in the mountain station Vetta Scorcola behind the upper carriage of funicular. With the ride the funicular up the mountain of the railcar pushed up the steep section and braked downhill driving, with speeds of up to twelve miles per hour can be achieved. The sliding carriage by cable car can not transport passengers or goods themselves. Their flat design allows the driver of the valley propelled tram car an unobstructed route view.

The drive of the funicular railway located in the mountain station Vetta Scorcola. The information provided by the Bell machine factory from Switzerland machinery has a driving power of 200 hp. The DC motor is powered directly from the catenary system with energy.

Operation

With the funicular up the steep section, the timetable design is given. The Tranvia di Opicina turned into a rigid 20 -minute intervals, which constantly are three courses in use. The funicular is remotely controlled from the drivers of trams.

History

The Tranvia di Opicina was put into operation on September 9, 1902. In July 1906, the extension was handed over to state railway station Opicina circulation. The steep section was first overcome by cogwheel railway, the two locomotives pushed the tramcars at a rate of seven to eight kilometers per hour over the gear track. On the Adhäsionsabschnitten the railcar reached a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

Because of the increasing transport numbers and the limited transport capacity of the gear train it was dismantled in 1927 and replaced by the funicular, which began operations on April 26, 1928. In 1978, the funicular cars were replaced. The new cars no longer had a box-like structure as the first car, but only a small cabin for the operator. In 2005, the funicular cars were again replaced. The latest generation of the funicular car has no cabin and no more current collector, because the plant will be remotely controlled from the drivers of trams.

The tramway was closed in September 2012 due to renovation. The expected re-opening is between the end of 2013 and early 2014.

Importance

Originally, the tram had a central importance for the development of the Trieste hinterland. So they promoted 1913 459.000 passengers, of whom belonged to the majority of the local population. Today, the train has lost its significance as an important means of transport for local people and is now primarily a tourist attraction, which relies on high subsidy contributions. It is still highly valued by the Trieste population and sung in numerous Italian and Slovenian folk songs.

Rolling stock

For the operation of the railway, a total of six four-axle Greater railcars are available, including four from the year 1935 (401, 402, 404 and 405 ) and two slightly younger in 1942 (406 and 407 ). All of the cars were built by Officine Meccaniche Stanga of the electrical equipment was supplied by Tecnomasio Italiano Brown Boveri ( TIBB ). Further still, there are two historic two-axle from the early days of the web.

Particularity

The railcar Tranvia di Opicina are bi-directional vehicles, but have still only on one side doors. All platforms of the trail are in the same direction Opicina left. Two-way operation with vehicles that have only one side doors, is quite rare. It still happens in Kirnitzschtalbahn, the Drachenfels Railway and tram of Gmunden.

Gallery

Funicular car pushes a railcar on the steep section

New Flat funicular cars, since 2005 in use

Interior view of a railcar from the 1930s