Dresden Suspension Railway

The Dresden Suspension Railway is a monorail in Loschwitz, Germany, linking two districts across a span of 274 meters. It climbs a height difference of 84 meters through a framework of 33 support pillars arranged over the Elbe valley.

Eugen Langen developed the installation and opened it in 1901 as the world's first cable-driven suspended funicular of this design. Later renovations secured its operation and preserved the original technology for future generations.

The name reflects its construction method, with cars hanging beneath the tracks rather than rolling on top of them, serving a hillside too steep for regular trams. Local residents treat this line as their everyday link between the two levels of their neighborhood, boarding with the same routine as any streetcar.

The two cars travel simultaneously in opposite directions and meet midway, where passengers can catch a brief view of the other car through a window. Boarding happens in covered stations that offer shelter even in poor weather.

At the upper station, visitors can enter a room where the cable wheels and gears remain visible, showing the mechanical interplay of the installation. From there, a small passage leads to an observation platform with views over the Elbe valley and surrounding vineyards.

Location: Dresden

Inception: 1898

Official opening: 1901

Address: Loschwitz

Website: https://dvb.de/en-gb/excursions/hillside-railways/schwebebahn

GPS coordinates: 51.05417,13.81806

Latest update: December 20, 2025 15:32