Stoosbahn: Riding the World's Steepest Funicular
On the seven-minute ride from Schwyz up to Stoos there is a moment when the track outside the window climbs away steeply and seems to vanish. The railway is then running at a gradient of 110% (47.7 degrees), which makes it steeper than any other funicular in the world. The Stoosbahn holds that record. Its four barrel-shaped cabins rotate continuously as the terrain changes, so the floor stays level even when the slope outside looks almost vertical. The railway is a remarkable piece of engineering. For the people of Stoos it is mainly the way home.
The key figures
- Maximum gradient: 110% (47.7°), a world record for funicular railways
- Height difference: 744 m from the valley station near Schwyz (Hinteres Schlattli) up to Stoos at 1,305 m
- Ride time: about 7 minutes
- Opened: December 2017, after 14 years of planning and construction, as the successor to the railway of 1933
- The engineering: each of the four cylindrical cabins turns with the gradient like a spirit level, so passengers stand upright even on the steepest section
What the ride feels like
Boarding at the valley station, everything still feels ordinary. Then the railway leaves the station, crosses the river Muota, runs through two tunnels and grows steadily steeper. The final ramp up to Stoos is the section with the record gradient. Through the window you see nothing but track and sky, while behind you the valley floor falls away. Everything around you is tilted at that moment and only you are standing straight, because the cabin has turned with the slope. It is worth boarding at the front, both going up and coming down. In both directions you get to watch the railway climb or descend the mountainside almost like a lift. Many passengers record that view on their phone.
The arrival is part of it too. The top station opens directly onto the village square of the car-free mountain village. There is no road and no traffic, only the plateau, the peaks and a quiet that would not exist up here without the railway.
Practical information
- Tickets: Stoos return from Schwyz or from Morschach; current fares are listed on the Stoosbahnen website. The ride is fully included in the Swiss Travel Pass, and the Half Fare Card gives you a 50% reduction. For the chairlifts above the village, the Peak Experience ticket is worth considering.
- Service: the railway runs regularly and all day throughout the year. It is part of the public transport network and more than an attraction for visitors.
- Getting to the valley station: bus 501 from Schwyz railway station (20 min) to "Schwyz, Stoosbahn". There is paid parking at the valley station.
- Crowds: on fine weekends queues build up during the morning. If you travel early or later in the day, you are more likely to get a place by the window.
Good to know
The Stoosbahn is often confused with two other Swiss record holders. The Gelmerbahn counts as the steepest funicular without scheduled public service, and the Pilatus railway as the steepest rack railway. For railway enthusiasts these distinctions matter. For everyone else it is enough to know that among the railways you can use on any day of the year as ordinary public transport, none in the world is steeper than the Stoosbahn.
At the top
It is worth staying a while instead of turning straight back. The chairlift to the Fronalpstock takes you to a wide panorama above Lake Lucerne. You can go for a walk on the plateau. In summer the ridge trail leads from the Klingenstock to the Fronalpstock, one of the best known high-level walks in Switzerland. There is more about the ridge walk in the article Stoos Ridge Hike.
FAQ
How steep is the Stoosbahn?
It reaches a gradient of up to 110 percent, which corresponds to 47.7 degrees. That is a world record among funicular railways.
How long does the ride take?
The railway needs about seven minutes for the 744 metres of ascent from Schwyz up to Stoos.
Do the cabins really stay level?
Yes. The barrel-shaped cabins rotate continuously with the gradient, so the floor stays level throughout the ride.
Is the Stoosbahn included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, the ride is fully included in the Swiss Travel Pass.
Is the ride frightening?
The ride is impressive rather than frightening. The cabin is enclosed, the railway runs smoothly and after a few minutes you are at the top. Looking up the steep ramp tends to make people laugh rather than flinch.
