Operations
The Swiss-designed railway provides easy access between the Alpine Way at Bullocks Flat and the Perisher Blue ski resort sites of Perisher Valley and Blue Cow Mountain. The Skitube passes through two tunnels and three stations, two of which are underground.
The line begins at Bullock Terminal at an altitude of 1125 metres and runs above ground for 2.6 km, crossing a three span 150 metre long steel truss bridge. A passing loop is located before entering the tunnel, which climbs on a 12.5 percent gradient to the Perisher Valley terminal. A provision for a second 300 metre long passing loop has been made inside the tunnel. To Blue Cow the line first drops downgrade, then climbs 1.3 km on a 3 percent gradient, then climbs at 12.5 percent to the terminus.
An off-peak schedule is run in early to late June and mid to late September, either side of the peak July-September ski season. Trains run between 5 am and 1 am, allowing for après-ski activities or night skiing. The Bullocks Flat terminus has a large, three-sided station with extensive parking, a pass office, a ski and snowboard school, information desk, kiosk, souvenir shop, and ski and snowboard hire shop. This allows day trippers to get tickets and equipment and be loaded for the 10-minute journey to the Perisher Valley station, and a further 7 minutes to Blue Cow. It is adjacent to the Lake Crackenback Resort (accommodation).
Read more about this topic: Skitube Alpine Railway
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