New Swiss funicular

A funicular running between the towns of Schwyz and (car-free) Stoos, the latter overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, began operation on Dec. 17. The gradient of the 1,720-meter-long track tops out at 47.7 degrees, making it the world’s steepest funicular. The train’s four barrel-shaped, 34-passenger cabins each sit on a pivot, allowing them to remain horizontal for the entire trip. 

The Schwyz-Stoos funicular leaves from Schwyz Stoosbahn (Stoosbahn 1, 6433 Schwyz, Switzerland; phone +41 41 818 08 08) every 30 minutes from 7:05 a.m to 7:40 p.m., and a ride lasts about four minutes. A round-trip ticket costs CHF22 (near $22.50). Visit stoos-muotatal.ch/en/train/stoos-railways.