See Switzerland's Stoosbahn: The World's Steepest Funicular

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Stoosbahn Is The Steepest Railway In The World

What Makes The Stoosbahn Uniquely Special

What To Do At Stoos Village On The Top

What To Know About Taking The Stoosbahn

Switzerland is the land of endless alpine wonders (albeit pricey alpine wonders). There are so many attractions in this incredible country. Switzerland is home to some of Europe's most enchanted mountains and most highly acclaimed ski resorts. It also has two of the world's steepest funiculars. Another of Switzerland's attractions is Klein Matterhorn - at 3,883 meters or 12,740 feet it is the highest point one can reach by train in the country.

The Stoosbahn otherwise known as the Schwyz-Stoos funicular is said to be the steepest funicular in the world. In Switzerland, it is more than just the destination - just getting to one's alpine resort village can be an adventure. Traveling around the Swiss Alps is often a trip through some of the most majestic landscapes that look like they are straight out of a Walt Disney movie.

Stoosbahn Is The Steepest Railway In The World

While the Stoosbahn is often called the steepest funicular in the world, the Katoomba Scenic Railway in Australia is actually steeper. The Stoosbahn has a maximum gradient of 110% (47.7°) while the Katoomba Scenic Railway reaches a gradient of some 122%. So it is the steepest in the world - outside of Down Under.

But the Stoosbahn has another claim to be the steepest railway in the world. The Katoomba Scenic Railway uses a winch system that technically makes it an incline life and not a funicular railway.

Steepest Funiculars/Trains In The World:

Katoomba Scenic Railway: 122%
Stoosbahn: 110% (47.7°)
Gelmerbahn: 106% (46°41')

What Makes The Stoosbahn Uniquely Special

The Stoosbahn is located in the Swiss canton of Schwyz and connects the Hintere Schlattli with the village and mountain resort of Stoos. The length of the line is only 1.1 miles or 1.7 kilometers but in that distance, it rises some 2,441 feet or 774 meters.

Steepest: Stoosbahn Is The Steepest In Europe
Length: 1.1 Miles or 1.7 Kilometers
Altitude Change: 2,441 feet or 774 meters

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Stoosbahn is that it is so steep that the cabins have been designed to rotate. The cabins are spherically shaped and adapt to the gradient perfectly (so passengers won't be tilled half over).

Cabins: Rotate With The Gradient

The Stoosbahn has only recently opened since the end of 2017 when it replaced the older Schwyz-Stoos funicular. That older funicular ran on a different route and was operating since 1933.

Previously the steepest funicular was Gelmerbahn also in Switzerland. It was built in 1626 to service a reservoir and dam and has been open to the public since 2001. If one is planning to go to Switzerland, plan ahead and reserve a ride on this awe-inspiring alpine train (it only operates seasonally).

What To Do At Stoos Village On The Top

Stoos - the mountain village that the Stoos railway services is a car-free village and an ideal place for some peace and relaxation. It is a paradise of stunning landscapes that mesmerize visitors in the summer and winter alike. The village itself is around 1,300 meters (4,300 ft) in elevation and has a population of around 100 inhabitants. In the winter, ski the slopes or explore them on foot along the snowshoe trails.

Altitude: 1,300 meters (4,300 ft)
Population: 100 People
Note: Car-Free
Season: Year-Round

Once there, there is a wide range of leisure activities with which one can enjoy the pristine Swiss Alps. Consider going for a hike along the ridge trail with eye-watering vistas of the Alps, or take a dip in the alpine Little Stoos Lake, or just soak in the atmosphere with a picnic.

What To Know About Taking The Stoosbahn

The journey from Schwyz to Stoos on the steepest funicular in the world takes between 4 and 7 minutes. Along the route, one will cross two bridges and go through three tunnels.