Standseilbahn Schwyz–Stoos, Funicular railway in Schwyz, Switzerland.
The Standseilbahn Schwyz-Stoos is a funicular in the canton of Schwyz, Switzerland, linking the town of Schwyz to the car-free mountain village of Stoos along a track about 1361 m (4,464 ft) long. The cabins are barrel-shaped and rotate to stay level as the slope changes throughout the ride.
A first funicular on this route opened in 1933, giving the mountain village its first reliable link to the valley below. The original line was replaced in 2017 by a completely new system, which at the time of opening held the record as the world's steepest funicular.
The funicular is the only way to reach the car-free village of Stoos, so locals use it for groceries, school runs, and everyday errands. Watching the mix of residents with shopping bags and visitors with ski gear gives a clear sense of how the place works.
The ride takes only a few minutes, so even if there is a short wait at the lower station, the total time spent is minimal. On busy weekends or holidays, arriving a little early at the valley station helps avoid the longest queues.
The maximum gradient of the track reaches 110 percent, which is steeper than any other funicular in the world. To handle this, the barrel-shaped cabins rotate continuously during the ride so that the floor stays roughly level under passengers' feet.
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