Pitzexpress at
St. Leonhard im Pitztal, Tirol
also known as Pitztaler Gletscherbahn
The upper end of the valley of Innerpitztal, called the Mittaskogel has been reached by funicular since 1983, when the underground funicular the Pitzexpress was opened. With a base station at 1,640 metres, and a bergstation1,200 metres higher, this funicular gives access to a high altitude cross-country langlauf ski course, a snowboard park, and a carving run – as well as the highest bakery in Austria. Because the funicular connects to a ski area on a glacier, skiing is possible from the end of September to the last week in May. Regular concerts, summer and winter, are held in the area around the bergstation.
The funicular was built by Waagner Büro, Wien, in 1982/3, and is allegedly the fastest funicular in the world. Totally underground, the two cars can each carry 200 people on the 7,786 metre-long railway at a peak speed of 12 metres/second. The average gradient is 31%, and the ride is accomplished in about 8 minutes, meaning that up to 1,600 people an hour in both directions can be accommodated.
The tunnel is 4.10 metres in diameter, with a larger diameter central passing section. The cars are fully automatic, and depart when one is full, or every half-hour at quiet times.
The funicular operates all year (with maintenance periods outside the winter and summer seasons) but single tickets, either up or down, are only issued between June and the end of September, when walkers may choose to make the outward or return journey on foot.
The nearest ÖBB railway station is Imst-Pitztal, at the entrance to the Pitztal valley. Post buses and taxis run from here to Pitztal several times a day.
Austrian railways also offer packages for skiers including return train fare and the ski pass.
As no ARG member has submitted photographs for the underground funicular,
and the picture shown, of the bergstation,
is supplied by Pitztaler Gletscherbahnen AR, the operators of the line.
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