The Harder funicular

On the road every summer since 1908

At the turn of the century (1800), hardly any mountain in the Bernese Oberland was spared from a railway project. So it was only a matter of time before a railway was built on Interlaken's local mountain. An initial project was granted a concession as early as 1890. The driving force behind it was tourism entrepreneur and National Councillor Dr Fritz Michel from Interlaken. Financing the railway proved difficult and soon became hopeless. Competing projects such as the Simmental and Thunerseebahn railways seemed more suitable for investing the money profitably. But Fritz Michel did not give up. Financiers and engineers from Lake Geneva were enthusiastic about the project.

Die Harder funicular is being built

In 1905, 15 years after the initial plans were drawn up, construction began on the last classic mountain railway in the Bernese Oberland. The newly founded Swiss Heritage Society was not enthusiastic about the railway project. It demanded that the route be relocated in order to protect the forest. Out of consideration for the landscape, it now ran in a wide arc to the mountain station at an altitude of 1'322 metres. At the same time, instead of a double track, only a single track with an automatic passing station was planned. For reasons of economy and because the Interlaken electricity and water supplier were able to supply the necessary energy, it was possible to dispense with a separate power station on the river Aare.

Die ersten offenen Wagen der Harderbahn

Alway in good shape

Its history is as modest as the railway itself. It has always risen to technical challenges. Between 1961 and 1966, it was given its current appearance. The two carriages were replaced and a new, more powerful drive system ensured faster travel. The safety systems, buildings and restaurant were constantly adapted to the needs of guests.

Almost as if the Harder funicular had had enough of the increasingly hectic tourist traffic after 99 years, its operations were abruptly interrupted on August 17th 2007. Huge masses of rock had broken loose as a result of heavy rainfall and made their way through the tunnel towards the viaduct. Some heavy boulders hurtled down to the valley station and severely damaged carriage no. 2. Operations remained suspended until September 21th.

100 years of the Harder funicular

The little red railway had big plans for this date. The drive system, the heart of the facility, was rebuilt and adapted, and as a birthday present, the Harderbahn received two new panoramic carriages in 2008.