Métro Lausanne – a real U-Bahn

About this place

Being right at the front of the Métro is like driving yourself.The almost six-kilometre line has the world’s greatest difference in altitude for a metro, 336 metres, with a maximum gradient of 12%. In the coming years, another line is planned from Blécherette via Palais de Beaulieu to Flon and on to a new station at the SBB station.Once two funicular railways, called "La Ficelle" (the string), then rebuilt as rack railways and today using rubber-tyred vehicles on the model of the Paris Métro, Lausanne’s urban line has an interesting history that began back in 1877. Ouchy–Flon was the very first funicular railway in Switzerland, and the parallel line from Lausanne SBB station to Flon was the first cable railway in the world." In the past, the cable cars could also push ordinary freight wagons in front of them.Height: 719m Access: Métro station at Lausanne SBB station, boat in Ouchy, bus connections from/to Epalinges-Croisettes View: from Ouchy across Lake Geneva to the French Savoy and the Vaud Alps Attractions: right at the front of the Métro, as if you were driving yourself Food and drink: culinary highlights in Lausanne’s old town between the station and Flon Overnight stay: Lausanne city centre and Ouchy by the lake Winter: open all year Special feature: expansion projects towards Blécherette (M3)