Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
Encyclopedia
The Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR) was a coming together, in 2001, of two small railway companies and two funicular
companies in the Montreux
/ Vevey
area of Switzerland. Some of these companies were, themselves, formed of amalgamations which had taken place over the years. Since this time they have been added to the marketing portfolio of the MOB
group and are featured as part of their "GoldenPass services".
, opening in 1883. This was joined at its upper terminus, Glion, in 1892 by the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
, a rack railway
using the system devised by Roman Abt. This gave a link between the shores of Lake Geneva
and the summit of Rochers-de-Naye. A direct link was established with the opening of the Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
in 1909. In due time these three companies formed the Chemin de fer Montreux-Territet-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye (MTGN).
The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
is a railway worked by both adhesion
and cogwheel
which opened the lines from Vevey to Chamby, St-Légier to Châtel-St-Denis (now closed and dismanteled) and Blonay to Les Pléiades. New rolling stock of the GTW type (Be 2/6 7001-7004) was to be used on both CEV adhesion Vevey–Blonay and MOB Montreux–Les Avants line. This is why these four railcar
s are labeled Chemin de fer léger de la Riviera.
The two other lines involved are the funicular
s between Les Avants and Sonloup, opened in 1910 and the Mont Pèlerin funicular at Vevey which predates it by 10 years.
See also:
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
companies in the Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
/ Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
area of Switzerland. Some of these companies were, themselves, formed of amalgamations which had taken place over the years. Since this time they have been added to the marketing portfolio of the MOB
Montreux-Oberland Bernois
The Montreux-Oberland Bernois railway , is a railway operating in southwest Switzerland, one of the oldest electric railways in the country; its main line, in length, built to gauge, connects Montreux, Gstaad and Zweisimmen where passengers can transfer to a branch of the standard gauge...
group and are featured as part of their "GoldenPass services".
History
The oldest of the companies involved was the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-GlionChemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion
The Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet–Glion is a funicular in Switzerland, which runs between the Territet and Glion suburbs of the the town of Montreux. At its upper terminus, the funicular connects with what was the lower terminus of the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway,...
, opening in 1883. This was joined at its upper terminus, Glion, in 1892 by the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
The Chemin de fer Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is a mountain railway in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland which links the places in its title, high above the Lake Geneva resort town of Montreux....
, a rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
using the system devised by Roman Abt. This gave a link between the shores of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
and the summit of Rochers-de-Naye. A direct link was established with the opening of the Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion
The line, which links the two places in its title was built by the Chemin de fer Montreux–Glion . Opened in 1909, at its upper terminus it made an end-on junction with the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye and across its platform with the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion. Nowadays, the...
in 1909. In due time these three companies formed the Chemin de fer Montreux-Territet-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye (MTGN).
The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans built and operated narrow gauge lines from Vevey to Blonay, Chamby, Châtel-St-Denis and Les Pléiades. The first section to see service, that from Vevey to Chamby, was opened on 1 October 1902. Next section was the branch line from St-Légier to...
is a railway worked by both adhesion
Rail adhesion
The term adhesion railway or adhesion traction describes the most common type of railway, where power is applied by driving some or all of the wheels of the locomotive. Thus, it relies on the friction between a steel wheel and a steel rail. Note that steam locomotives of old were driven only by...
and cogwheel
Rack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
which opened the lines from Vevey to Chamby, St-Légier to Châtel-St-Denis (now closed and dismanteled) and Blonay to Les Pléiades. New rolling stock of the GTW type (Be 2/6 7001-7004) was to be used on both CEV adhesion Vevey–Blonay and MOB Montreux–Les Avants line. This is why these four railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s are labeled Chemin de fer léger de la Riviera.
The two other lines involved are the funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
s between Les Avants and Sonloup, opened in 1910 and the Mont Pèlerin funicular at Vevey which predates it by 10 years.
See also:
- Chemins de fer électriques VeveysansChemins de fer électriques VeveysansThe Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans built and operated narrow gauge lines from Vevey to Blonay, Chamby, Châtel-St-Denis and Les Pléiades. The first section to see service, that from Vevey to Chamby, was opened on 1 October 1902. Next section was the branch line from St-Légier to...
- Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-NayeChemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-NayeThe Chemin de fer Montreux - Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is an electrically operated rack and pinion railway in Switzerland, with a track gauge of , which links the places mentioned in its title.-History:...
- Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-NayeChemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-NayeThe Chemin de fer Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is a mountain railway in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland which links the places in its title, high above the Lake Geneva resort town of Montreux....
- Chemin de fer Montreux-GlionChemin de fer Montreux-GlionThe line, which links the two places in its title was built by the Chemin de fer Montreux–Glion . Opened in 1909, at its upper terminus it made an end-on junction with the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye and across its platform with the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion. Nowadays, the...
- Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-GlionChemin de fer funiculaire Territet-GlionThe Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet–Glion is a funicular in Switzerland, which runs between the Territet and Glion suburbs of the the town of Montreux. At its upper terminus, the funicular connects with what was the lower terminus of the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway,...
- Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye
- Chemin de fer funiculaire Vevey-Chardonne-Mont PèlerinChemin de fer funiculaire Vevey-Chardonne-Mont PèlerinThe Chemin de fer funiculaire Vevey–Chardonne–Mont Pèlerin is a funicular which runs between Vevey, a town on the north shore of Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Montreux through the Chardonne vineyards of the Lavaux region to the summit of Mont Pèlerin.The line was constructed in 1899 and opened...
- Chemin de fer Les Avants-SonloupChemin de fer Les Avants-SonloupThe Chemin de fer Les Avants–Sonloup is a metre gauge funicular which runs from the railway station of the Chemin de fer Montreux-Oberland Bernois at Les Avants, between Montreux and Montbovon, and an upper terminus at Sonloup...
Report, 2007
On 20 June 2008 in a report to the Assembée Générale the MVR said the a successful trading year in 2007 had been had by the Montreux - Glion - Rochers-de-Naye railway with a 10% increase in its passenger numbers over those in 2006, itself a record year. In the Christmas period over 100,000 passengers were carried as part of the "Pére Nöel" promotion. It was not expected that this would be continued into 2008 as work on the Tunnel de Valmont would close the lower part of the railway for all of May. This was the best performing of the company interests featured. Unfortunately the Blonay to Les Pléiades railway section showed a massive 30% downturn in its passenger figures, most of which was credited to unfavourable conditions in the winter season. This was also given as the reason for the loss of CHF 90,000 (£44,500 at present rates, June 2008) shown by the Les Avents - Sonloup funicular, the cost of which will be met by the cantonal government.- Details of the report were published in "24 Heures", Riviera-Chablais edition dated 21-22 June 2008.