World's steepest funicular: the Stoos funicular is a thrill
The new funicular of Stoos, in the canton of Schwyz, has a gradient of up to 110 percent: the cabins rise from 562 meters above sea level to reach 1306 meters - in four minutes. Cost of the work: € 48 million.
It is located in Stoos, in the canton of Schwyz, an idyllic village of 150 souls above Lake Lucerne: it runs on a 110 percent slope.
From the valley station of Schlattli (near Schwyz) it goes up to Stoos: 1.7 kilometers for a difference in altitude of 743 meters. The futuristic "mountain railway" is not only used for tourist transport: it is also a sort of vital link for the 150 souls who live all year round on the Stoos.
The new Schwyz-Stoos-Bahn has retired the old Stoos funicular, a pioneering work that has been in operation for 84 years.
The train has been designed in such a way that the cylindrical cabins turn around following the inclination of the path to allow passengers to always remain in a vertical position.
The Schwyz-Stoos-Bahn cost about 52 million Swiss francs, just under 48 million euros.
