The 1,200 m cable car takes four minutes

The world’s steepest cable car, an incredible engineering wonder in the Alps, began operating in Switzerland last weekend, Interesting Engineering reported on December 17. The cable line helps connect the villages of Stechelberg and Murren, operating automatically without the need for staff. Instead, cameras and sensors continuously monitor the operating process, ensuring safety throughout the journey.

The cabin climbs to a height of 775 m along the nearly 1,200 m long cable line in just 4 minutes. With an extremely steep slope, reaching 159.4%, the system uses a specially designed cabin suspended under an 11 m long arm. These cabins can accommodate up to 85 passengers at a time, providing a safe and smooth ride despite steep inclines.

At the official opening ceremony on December 13, the first cabin ran on the uphill cable line. The system started serving regular passengers the next day.

The new cable route is part of a larger three-section route being developed within the Schilthornbahn 20XX project. The entire network will connect Stechelberg and Murren to the summit of Birg, eventually to the summit of Schilthorn made famous by the 1969 James Bond film. When completed, travel times will be reduced from 32 minutes to 18 minutes.

In addition to the steepest cable car route, the new Funifor cable car system between Murren and Birg has also just opened. The final leg of the route, running from Birg to Schilthorn, is expected to open in March 2025.

This is the first time Switzerland has applied Funifor technology. The Funifor system features good wind resistance and independent cables, ensuring year-round reliability. Standalone operation means the cable can continue to operate even while the system is being tested or maintained. Designed to accommodate 100 passengers per cabin, the system ensures uninterrupted transportation, an important factor during the high-volume ski season.