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The Mergellina Funicular (
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
: ''Funicolare di Mergellina''), is one of four operating
funicular A funicular ( ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep grade (slope), slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to ...
s in the
public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...
ion system of
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
, Italy. The system is a true funicular: an inclined railway with two passenger cars, connected via cables, operating in concert. Opened in 1931, the Mergellina Funicular is Naples' fourth and most recent funicular. The funicular connects its upper terminus in the
Posillipo Posillipo (; ) is an affluent residential quarter of Naples, southern Italy, located along the northern coast of the Gulf of Naples. From the 1st century BC the Bay of Naples witnessed the rise of villas constructed by elite Romans along the mo ...
Alto neighborhood with its lower terminus in Mergellina via five stations: Manzoni, Parco Angelina, San Gioacchino, San Antonio and Mergellina. Unlike Naples' other three funiculars with upper terminals near Piazza Vanvitelli in Vomero, the Mergellina line is located farther to the northwest. It runs uphill from the marina at Mergellina Sanazzarro to Manzoni, close to the Line 6 of the
Naples Metro The Naples Metro () is a rapid transit system serving the city of Naples, Campania, Italy and some parts of the adjacent ''Comune, comuni'' of its Naples metropolitan area, metropolitan area through Naples–Aversa railway, Line 11. The system ...
. The
Chiaia Chiaia (, ) is an affluent neighbourhood on the seafront in Naples, Italy, bounded by Piazza Vittoria on the east and Mergellina on the west. Chiaia is one of the wealthiest districts in Naples, and many luxury brands have shops on its main stree ...
, Central and Montesanto funiculars connect nearby lower areas of Naples to the high neighborhood of
Vomero Vomero () is a bustling hilltop district of metropolitan Naples, Italy — comprising approximately and a population of 48,000. Vomero is noted for its central square, Piazza Vanvitelli; the ancient Petraio, its earliest path up and down t ...
. A now defunct system, the Sorrento Funicular, operated nearby from 1883 to 1886.


History

In the early 20th century, Naples' urban expansion spread toward the northwestern hills, with new residential neighbourhoods on Posillipo hill. To facilitate easier access into the area, construction commenced on the funicular in the late 1920s, and it began service with delays or construction complications on 24 May 1931. The funicular operated without problem through
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and for much of the immediate post-war period. By the early 1980s, the now aging line experienced problems due to its uninterrupted use and began having regular service disruptions. While the line remained popular, it did not generate revenue that could finance its overhaul, and its operators transferred management over to regional authorities. Modernization commenced in May 1985, with new electronic and mechanical components, operation controls, transmissions and safety systems installed. The overhauled line reopened on 16 January 1986 after a seven-month closure. The line closed briefly between May 1989 and March 1990 for an overhaul to the rail and traction systems, in time for Naples to host the
1990 FIFA World Cup The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event for a second ...
. In 1999, the Campania Regional Management Committee transferred management of the Mergellina Funicular to
Azienda Napoletana Mobilità (English: Neapolitan Mobility Company, or Mobility Company of Naples), more commonly known simply as ANM, is a municipally controlled public company that is the primary provider of urban public transportation in the city of Naples, Italy, and als ...
(ANM - Neapolitan Mobility Agency), who were by then responsible for running the four funiculars in Naples. As with the other three, ANM was replaced as the operator on 1 February 2001 by
Metronapoli Metronapoli SpA was an Italian company responsible for the provision of public transport in the city of Naples, and its primary function was the operation and maintenance of the Naples Metro system. It was founded on 26 July 2000 and became opera ...
, who began a process of better integrating the various elements of rail transport within Naples, creating better interchanges and connections. ANM took over Metronapoli in November 2013, thereby again becoming the Mergellina Funicular's operator. After numerous stoppages since 2016 due to workforce issues, ANM closed the system in October 2020, because of
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
complications. The Mergellina funicular remained out of service, well into 2021, ostensibly replaced by a six-day per week bus shuttle.


Operation

The Mergellina Funicular carries a quarter of a million passengers annually, with an average of 3,200 passengers on workdays and 2,000 on weekends and holidays, making it the least used of Naples' funiculars. The line is long, and ascends at an average
gradient In vector calculus, the gradient of a scalar-valued differentiable function f of several variables is the vector field (or vector-valued function) \nabla f whose value at a point p gives the direction and the rate of fastest increase. The g ...
of 16%, although one section is as steep as 46%. The carriages travel at an average speed of , and the entire route takes seven minutes. Each train can carry 60 passengers, giving a capacity of 480 passengers per hour in each direction.


Stations


See also

*
List of Naples metro stations The Naples Metro is a metro system in Italy that serves Naples metropolitan area and the province of Caserta. Its first section opened in 1993. The system is composed of 3 lines – Line 1, Line 6 and Line 11 – serving 30 stations. Instead, ...
*
List of rapid transit systems These lists of urban rail transit systems are sorted by the type of system: * List of tram and light rail transit systems * List of town tramway systems * Medium-capacity rail system * List of premetro systems * List of metro systems * List o ...
*
List of funicular railways This is a list of funicular railways, organised by place within country and continent. The funiculars range from short urban lines to significant multi-section mountain railways. A funicular railway is distinguished from the similar incline elev ...


References


External links


Official site of the Metropolitana di Naples



Railways and metro station of Naples
{{Urban rail transport in Naples Metre-gauge railways in Italy Transport in Naples Railway lines in Campania
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
Railway lines opened in 1931