The world’s steepest railway railway cable car launches near the Swiss Alps

By: Olivia

Mountain cable cars usually give the impression of being slow, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenery outside the window. But what if the slope is so steep—like a roller coaster—that it adds an unexpected thrill to your journey?

Just look at this gradient—it can only be incredibly thrilling! Recently, the StoosBahn cable car between the Swiss town of Schwyz and the Alpine village of Schwyzer began operations. Though it may look unremarkable, this new cable car is the steepest railway in the world. At its steepest point, the track gradient reaches 110%, which is truly an exhilarating angle. The StoosBahn took 14 years to build and can carry up to 136 passengers per trip. (In fact, there is also a cable car in Australia with a gradient of 122%, but it operates as a funicular rather than a traditional cable car.)

The cable car cabins feature a round design that helps maintain balance inside even on steep slopes.

With a construction cost of over 5.2 million Swiss francs, are you interested in taking a ride? Next time you visit Switzerland, be sure to set aside some time for it.

Source:  mymodernmet