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A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This is the upper end of the tunnel, which is located behind (seen from the valley) the station of the Col Raiser aerial cableway. It seems that the construction of the tunnel itself is still under progress. Picture taken on 26 February 2004. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

col_raiser2.jpg (103658 bytes)

A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This information board near the upper station at the Col Raiser aerial cableway shows a drawing of one of the cars. Obviously it will not be articulated, and there will be four compartments (most likely each one having room for 35 persons). It seems that the cabs will be accessed through the compartments, this is a bit unusual. Picture taken on 26 February 2004. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

rucia1.jpg (117839 bytes)

A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This is the lower end of the tunnel, located next to the end of the Saslong run at the bottom of the valley. Near the upper edge the main street of the valley is visible. Picture taken on 26 February 2004. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

rucia2.jpg (108321 bytes)

A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This is a close-up onto the information board at the lower end of the tunnel. It tells which companies are doing the work and who is responsible for what. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

rucia3.jpg (100882 bytes)

A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This is the lower end of the tunnel, located next to the end of the Saslong run at the bottom of the valley. It seems that the construction of the tunnel itself is still under progress. Picture taken on 26 February 2004. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

rucia4.jpg (136616 bytes)

A new underground funicular is under construction in the Grödnertal (Val Gardena) in Südtirol (Alto Adige). It will connect the lower end of the Col Raiser aerial cableway (on the north side of the valley) with Rucia on the south side, at the lower end of the Saslong world cup ski run (where also an aerial cableway leads upwards). By now the ski areas are connected by busses. It will be a classical funicular with two cars and a siding in the middle of the 1246 m long line. Operating speed will be 10 m/s (36 km/h). Each car can transport 140 persons, yielding a total capacity of 2000 persons per hour in each direction. Opening is planned for christmas 2004. This is the construction site at Rucia, seen from the north side. The tunnel, which is not visible, passes under the street in the left part of the picture. In the background is the Saslong run, most of the finish area is used for parking at this time. The wooden building at the bottom is used for the commentators during the world cup. On the right is the station of the aerial cableway which leads up into the ski area. Picture taken on 26 February 2004. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)