The world’s steepest cable car has just begun in Bernese Alps, Switzerland and directly connects Stechelberg to Murren. This service underscores the first phase’s completion of the SCHIlTHORNBAHN 20XX project. The whole project involves building a new route of three sections, running from Stechelberg and Murren via Birg up to the Schilthron. This new route will cut the journey duration from 32 minutes to 18 minutes.
The new cable car has a record-breaking gradient of 159.4%. Riders can travel from the valley floor to the mountain village of Murren in a mere 4 minutes. The cable car service covers 775 metres in height and a distance of 1,194 metres, making it an unprecedented feat of engineering.
Currently, there are two cable cars available for the service, manufactured by Carvatech in Australia. Together, these cars can transport up to 85 passengers or 6.8 tonnes of cargo per trip and have a capacity of 800 people per hour. A distinct feature of this cable car is the 11-metre-long suspension arm, designed to deal with incline.
This service leverages advanced technology, including the AURO (Autonomous Ropeway Operation) system, which uses cameras and sensors to make driverless trips. A fully automated loading robot is there to manage freight logistics and handle luggage and cargo transport with passengers via undercarriage containers.
At the same time, Switzerland launched the track for its first Funifor cable car between Murren and Birg. The second Funifor cable car track is scheduled to open in November 2025. Now, it is to see if this cable car journey is included among the world’s epic cable cars.