Glarus bails out loss making Braunwald funicular

The Glarus cantonal government will provide initial funding of 600,000 Swiss francs to keep the Braunwald funicular running, SRF reported. The company is expected to face a shortfall of almost three million francs by mid 2027.

The Braunwald funicular is the only connection between the mountain village and the valley, making it part of the public transport network in Glarus. Braunwald lies at an altitude of 1,300 metres.

The canton said further funding would be released in stages and according to need to secure public transport to Braunwald.

Losses continued after major renovation

The Braunwald Funicular Company has reported substantial losses since 2023, according to the Glarus government. The railway was renovated from 2023 at a cost of almost 11 million francs, including a new valley station, a new machinery room and modernised passenger car interiors. The canton provided the renovation funding.

The modernisation has not been enough to offset the company losses of recent years. Snow poor winters may also have contributed by bringing fewer tourists to Braunwald.

Sportbahnen Braunwald, which operates the village ski lifts among other facilities, is also struggling with the lack of snow. It has announced that its facilities will remain closed next winter because continuing to operate them would no longer be financially viable.

The funicular and the sport lifts are separate companies, but they depend on each other because of Braunwald’s unusual transport links.

Government orders financial review

The cantonal government wants the company’s board to analyse and address how the multimillion franc deficit developed.

The funicular has previously been at the centre of political debate over whether it should be supplemented by a gondola lift. The proposal failed because of its cost and opposition at the Glarus cantonal assembly. Access to Braunwald by funicular is now enshrined in law.