The world’s steepest cable car, connecting the villages of Stechelberg and Mürren in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland, began operating on Saturday, offering a remarkable four-minute journey up the Mürrenfluh cliffs.
With a gradient of 159.4%, the cable car climbs 775 meters along a track measuring nearly 1,194 meters. Each cabin can hold 85 passengers, allowing the system to transport up to 800 people per hour at full capacity, according to Schilthornbahn AG.
Due to the extreme incline, the cabins are suspended from eleven-meter-long arms. Supported by two towers, the cable car travels at a speed of seven meters per second and operates automatically without onboard staff. Cameras and sensors ensure continuous monitoring of the system’s operations.
The cable car is part of a broader development effort known as the ‘Schilthornbahn 20XX’ project. This initiative aims to improve access to the Schilthorn, a location globally recognized as ‘Piz Gloria’ from the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Currently, the topmost section of the project, connecting Birg to the Schilthorn, is closed due to construction. Once completed, the enhanced cable car system will comprise three sections, each equipped with two cabins. These sections will eliminate the need for transfers, reducing the travel time from Stechelberg to Schilthorn from 32 minutes to just over 18 minutes.
Schilthornbahn AG estimates the total cost of the project at CHF 90–100 million (approximately $100–112 million). The project is scheduled for completion by spring 2026.