A milking apparatus comprising a milking cluster having a plurality of teatcups to be attached to an animal to be milked, a retraction line connected to the milking cluster , a cylinder comprising an elongated cylinder chamber and a piston being movable back and forth in the cylinder chamber along a longitudinal axis (x) to a first end position adjacent to a first end of the cylinder chamber , and to a second end position adjacent to a second end of the cylinder chamber , wherein the cylinder chamber forms a first chamber part between the piston and the first end and a second chamber part (12") between the piston and the second end , and wherein the piston is provided to act on the retraction line to move the milking cluster to a retracted rest position when piston is moved to the second end position, and to permit the milking cluster to be moved to an active milking position when the piston is in the first end position, and a switch device configured to alternate between a first state and a second state, wherein the retraction line is provided to act on the switch device and to permit the switch device to change from the first state to the second state when a movement of the milking cluster from the retracted rest position is initiated, characterized in that the first chamber part is closed and connectable to a device providing a pressurized medium, the second chamber part (12") is closed and connectable to said device , and the switch device in the second state initiates supply of the pressurized medium from said device to the second chamber part (12"), thereby forcing the piston to move to the first end position, wherein the switch device comprises a switch and a tilting element having a first portion attached to the retraction line and a second portion acting on the switch . a milking cluster having a plurality of teatcups to be attached to an animal to be milked, a retraction line connected to the milking cluster , a cylinder comprising an elongated cylinder chamber and a piston being movable back and forth in the cylinder chamber along a longitudinal axis (x) to a first end position adjacent to a first end of the cylinder chamber , and to a second end position adjacent to a second end of the cylinder chamber , wherein the cylinder chamber forms a first chamber part between the piston and the first end and a second chamber part (12") between the piston and the second end , and wherein the piston is provided to act on the retraction line to move the milking cluster to a retracted rest position when piston is moved to the second end position, and to permit the milking cluster to be moved to an active milking position when the piston is in the first end position, and a switch device configured to alternate between a first state and a second state, wherein the retraction line is provided to act on the switch device and to permit the switch device to change from the first state to the second state when a movement of the milking cluster from the retracted rest position is initiated, characterized in that the first chamber part is closed and connectable to a device providing a pressurized medium, the second chamber part (12") is closed and connectable to said device , and the switch device in the second state initiates supply of the pressurized medium from said device to the second chamber part (12"), thereby forcing the piston to move to the first end position, wherein the switch device comprises a switch and a tilting element having a first portion attached to the retraction line and a second portion acting on the switch . <EOS>