World record for mountain railroads in Switzerland

FlemXpress – The world’s first gondola cab!

On December 23, 2023, the first two sections of the FlemXpress gondola lift, namely Flims-Foppa and Foppa-Startgels, were officially put into operation. The remaining three sections – Startgels-Segnes, Segnes-Nagens Sura and Segnes-Cassons – will also be completed and ready for operation by the 2024/25 winter season.

With the Eiger Express from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier, you can travel from the terminal in Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier in just 15 minutes. There you can transfer directly to the Jungfrau Railway, saving 47 minutes on the way to the Jungfraujoch – the “Top of Europe”. This gives you more time to enjoy the panorama and the world of adventure at the top of the Jungfraujoch.

The 3S system used in the Eiger Express stands for “3-cableway system”. This modern ropeway technology uses three suspension ropes to transport the cabins. Two of these suspension ropes ensure the stability of the cabins, while the third acts as a drive rope. This technology enables a higher transport capacity, larger spans and higher speeds compared to conventional ropeway systems.

The world’s highest 3S cableway, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride, awaits you in the high alpine mountain world around the Matterhorn. This impressive cable car takes you from Trockener Steg to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Klein Matterhorn) at 3,883 m above sea level.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride is characterized by numerous superlatives and unique features. Step into one of the panoramic cabins designed by the renowned Pininfarina design studio, take a seat on the heated seats and enjoy a 9-minute ride through the fascinating mountain world surrounding the legendary Matterhorn.

After your arrival, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise awaits you with a unique excursion mountain that is accessible all year round and offers exciting attractions.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride II – Alpin Crossing

A groundbreaking innovation now allows visitors to travel from Italy to Switzerland and vice versa not only on skis and snowboards, but also on foot. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II closes the last remaining gap between Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia, making the long-cherished vision of the highest cable car crossing in the Alps a reality at last.

At the Stand intermediate station, visitors change to the Titlis Rotair, which promises an unforgettable glacier experience. As the world’s first rotating aerial cableway, it offers passengers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountain landscape during the seven-minute ride. The cabin gently rotates on its own axis, allowing guests to enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape. On arrival at the summit, visitors have access to the glacier garden, the ice cave and the highest suspension bridge in Europe, the “Titlis Cliff Walk”.

The world-record Titlis Rotair mountain railroad is a technical masterpiece and guarantees visitors an unforgettable adventure with views in all directions with snow-covered mountain peaks, steep rock faces and deep crevasses.

It is a ride that inspires fascination and excitement as the wind blows through your hair and the fresh air on the upper deck can be felt during the ride. The Stanserhorn funicular brought its first guests up to the Stanserhorn back in 1893, and the ride on the CabriO cable car and the historic funicular is like a journey through cable car history.

There is a lot to discover on the Stanserhorn: enjoy a breathtaking view of 100 kilometers of the Alps and 10 Swiss lakes, meet the Stanserhorn rangers and marmots, explore the plant conservation area with its enchanting fauna and flora, and indulge in culinary delights at the revolving restaurant Rondorama – try the specialty Älplermagronen from the Edelweisstopf and much more.

The world record-breaking mountain railroad to Stoos is a technical masterpiece that makes the journey itself an impressive experience. On arrival at Stoos, guests are greeted by a true paradise with breathtaking views, which is as attractive in summer as it is in winter.

Stoos, an idyllic village and ski resort in central Switzerland, offers a variety of activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking and paragliding, always accompanied by magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Lucerne. Stoos is also a popular destination for families, offering a variety of restaurants and accommodation.

The railroad runs along a 4.6-kilometre-long narrow-gauge line (track gauge 80 cm) and covers a difference in altitude of 1,635 meters. The uphill travel speed is between 9 and 12 km/h, while the maximum downhill speed is 9 km/h. This results in a travel time of 30 minutes. This results in a journey time of 30 to 40 minutes.

The world record-breaking mountain railroad to Pilatus is a true masterpiece: thanks to two horizontally rotating cogwheels, this impressive ascent can be mastered using a cogwheel railroad. This innovative technology was developed by engineer Eduard Locher, and the first ride took place in 1889. In the same year, this masterpiece was presented at the World Exhibition in Paris.

On arrival at the summit of Mount Pilatus, visitors are treated to breathtaking views of the lakes and mountains of the Swiss Alps in all directions. Even the famous American writer Mark Twain was impressed by this scenery, as he recorded in his book “On Foot through Europe”.

One notable episode from this era is the transportation of Queen Victoria in 1868, when she was still carried in a sedan chair to the highest peak of the Rigi on Lake Lucerne. The two porters who accompanied her received six pieces of gold in recognition of their efforts, as recorded in the annals of the Rigi Kulm Hotel. Three years later, the sedan chair porters became superfluous as they were replaced by a steam locomotive: On May 21, 1871, Europe’s first mountain railroad started operation.

Nowadays, Rigi Kulm can be easily reached in just under an hour via the approximately 7-kilometre route from Vitznau or Goldau on the “red or blue train”. The 360° panoramic view from the Rigi Kulm is particularly attractive, offering a view of 620 Alpine peaks and 13 lakes.