Kurwaldbahn, Funicular railway in Bad Ems, Germany

Kurwaldbahn is a funicular railway in Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatinate, that carries passengers up a steep hillside on a short route. Two cars run simultaneously on a single track and pass each other at a crossing point in the middle of the line.

The Kurwaldbahn opened in 1979, the same year the Malbergbahn on the opposite bank of the Lahn was shut down. In spring 2005, ahead of the Rheinland-Pfalz-Tag, it was renovated for about 1.5 million euros and its first-generation cars were replaced by new vehicles from the Swiss manufacturer Garaventa.

The funicular brings visitors to the Bismarckturm, a tower above Bad Ems that looks out over the Lahn valley. The tower is a popular destination for a short walk, and the ride up has become part of the local experience for anyone visiting the town.

Each car holds around 25 people and the ride takes just over a minute from bottom to top. The funicular runs every day, so visitors can generally board whenever they arrive during opening hours.

The line's nickname among locals, "Asthmarutsche" or "Röchelexpress", refers to the respiratory clinics at the top station on the Bismarckhöhe. The lower station is hidden behind the listed facade of a hotel and apartment complex.