Pau funicular

The Funiculaire de Pau, sometimes known as the Pau Funicular, is a funicular train in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département of southern France. It connects the Boulevard des Pyrénées, above the city center and the Château de Pau, to the Pau train station, below the Gave de Pau valley. The railway arrived in Pau in 1863, but it wasn't until 1885 that the idea of building a funicular was proposed. The decision to build the line was made in 1906, and the funicular began operation in 1908.

The line was closed from 1951 to 1954, and again in 1961, for equipment replacement. It was decommissioned in 1970 because to safety concerns and a lack of patronage. The town opted in 1978 to maintain the heritage infrastructure, refurbish it, and reopen it, with the line being fare-free. Additional inspections and modifications occurred in 1995, 2006, and 2010. During the most recent restorations, improvements were made to make the line more accessible to people with limited mobility. The current cottages were built in 1961. The funicular is free to use and runs from 06:15 to 21:00 on weekdays and in the afternoons on weekends and holidays. It is run by the city council, and carries some 500,000 passengers a year, with a monthly peak of 50,000 passengers and a daily average of 1,500 people.

Location: Pau, France