Climb any mountain: World’s steepest funicular rail line opens at Alpine resort

Swiss engineering and technology have reached new heights with the opening of the world’s steepest funicular rail line. The €44.6m Schwyzstoos funicular (Standseilbahn Schwyz-stoos in German), which goes into public service tomorrow, has been hailed as a triumph of modern design engineering.

It was opened by the president of the Swiss federal council, Doris Leuthard, in the Alpine resort of Stoos, 4,300ft above sea level. A leveladjusting function will allow the space-age-looking carriages, accessible to all users, to remain horizontal while speeding up the mountain.