Montserrat Rack Railway

Cremallera de Montserrat
EMU AM2 of the Montserrat rack-railway
Overview
OwnerFerrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
LocaleMonistrol de Montserrat, Barcelona
Service
Operator(s)Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
History
Opened1892
Closed12 May 1957
Reopened6 June 2003
Technical
Line length5 km (3.1 mi)
Rack systemAbt
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Electrification1500 V DC Overhead line
Operating speed30 km/h (18.6 mph) on rack 45 km/h (28.0 mph) adhesion
Maximum incline15.6 %
Route map

Monistrol de Montserrat
Montserrat-Aeri
Pont del centenari
Monistrol-Vila
La Santa Cova
Montserrat-Monestir
Montserrat-Monestir
Ermita de Sant Joan

The Montserrat Rack Railway (Spanish and Catalan: Cremallera de Montserrat, IPA: [kɾəməˈʎeɾə ðə munsəˈrat]) is a mountain railway line north-west of Barcelona in Catalonia. The line runs from Monistrol de Montserrat to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat.

The line is 5 km (3.1 mi) long and has a rail gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in). The first 1 km (0.6 mi) of the line, between Monistrol FGC station and the only intermediate station at Monistrol Vila, is operated by conventional adhesion. The remainder of the line is operated as a rack railway using the Abt system, overcoming a height difference of 550 m (1,804 ft) with a maximum gradient of 15.6%. The line is electrified with an overhead supply at 1500 V DC.

The line is operated by the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC).