Mont Blanc Tramway

Mont Blanc Tramway
A train of the Mont-Blanc Tramway
Overview
Type	Tramway/Rack railway
Termini	Gare de Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet Nid d'Aigle
Operation
Opened	1907
Operator(s)	Compagnie du Mont-Blanc ()
Technical
Line length	12.4 km (7.7 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Electrification	11 kV 50 Hz AC
Highest elevation	2,372 m (7,782 ft) asl
Maximum incline	24%
Rack system	Strub

Line's heights

The Mont Blanc Tramway or Tramway du Mont-Blanc (TMB) is a mountain railway line in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It is the highest in France and the fourth highest in Europe.

The spectacular views of Mont Blanc and adjacent mountains of the Mont Blanc massif provided by the tramway make it very popular with tourists. Furthermore, mountaineers and hikers use the tramway because its stops provide the jumping off points for many trails, as well as giving access to the Refuge Nid d'Aigle close to the terminus of railway. The normal alpine mountaineering route to climb Mont Blanc starts at the tramway's terminus, Nid d'Aigle, and proceeds either to an overnight stop at the Tête Rousse Hut, or at the higher Goûter Hut ().

The line runs from a connection with the SNCF at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Le Fayet station to the Nid d'Aigle station at the Bionnassay glacier at an altitude of 2,372 m (7,782 ft). The initial intention was for the line to reach the Aiguille du Goûter.

The line is 12.4 km (7.7 mi) long and has a rail gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in). It is a rack and adhesion railway, using the Strub design to overcome a height difference of 1,792 m (5,879 ft). The line has an average gradient of 15% and a maximum gradient of 24%. Some 85% of the line is equipped with rack rail, with adhesion being used at the foot of the line and at intermediate crossing stations. The line is electrified using an overhead line at 11 kV and 50 Hz AC.