Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera

Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
Overview
Locale	Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
Service
Type	Narrow gauge railway and Rack railway and Funicular
Technical
Rack system	Strub and Abt
Track gauge	800 mm (2 ft 7+1⁄2 in) and 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrification	900 V DC overhead

The Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera (MVR) was a coming together, in 2001, of two small railway companies and two funicular companies in the Vevey / Montreux 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".

History

The oldest of the companies involved was the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion, 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 dismantled) 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 railcars are labeled Chemin de fer léger de la Riviera.

The two other lines involved are the funiculars between Les Avants and Sonloup, opened in 1910 and the Mont Pèlerin funicular at Vevey which predates it by 10 years.

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.