Cogwheel railway Pilatus
- Visit: 27–33 min
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Pilatus Bahn - world's steepest cogwheel railwayPaweł Misiak
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Pilatus Bahn - world's steepest cogwheel railway (driver view)Paweł Misiak
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Mt Pilatus Cogwheel Railway Switzerland - WORLD'S STEEPEST RACK RAILW…Holi Magnet
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Ride Steepest Cogwheel Railway in the World. Mount Pilatus Train. Swi…Traveling Is Life Channel
Why go
- Ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, reaching gradients of 48%.
- Climb 1,629 metres over a 4.6-kilometre route.
- Find walking trails and the Bellevue and Pilatus-Kulm hotels near the upper terminus.
What you see
- Pilatus-Kulm hotel, built in 1890, is a protected historic monument.
Best time to visit
- The railway operates from May to October.
History
Private capital funded construction without a government construction subsidy. The railway carried 35,000 passengers in its first year; by 1901, one million people had travelled to the summit by rail.
- 1873An initial proposal called for standard gauge and a maximum gradient of 25%.
- 1885Eduard Locher proposed a steeper route that halved the route length.
- 1886Construction began in April; 600 workers, mostly Italians, built the line.
- 1888Railway company board members made the first passenger journey uphill on 17 August.
- 1889Public steam service opened on 4 June.
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- 1937Electric service began on 15 May, replacing the steam fleet.
- 2001The American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated the railway a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
- 2023On 5 June, the railway began its first season with a new Stadler passenger fleet. The railcars can run in pairs, and Ämsigen and Pilatus Kulm stations were upgraded.
How to get there
- TrainThe valley terminus is near Alpnachstad station on the Brünig railway.
- BoatLake Lucerne steamers connect with the railway at Alpnachstad.
Sources: Pilatus Railway - Wikipedia · Pilatus cogwheel railway · Pilatusbahn - Wikipedia · Pilatusbahn - Wikipedia · Pilatusbahn - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Phone
- +41 41 329 13 13
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
Is there an intermediate stop?
Ämsigen is a regular tourist stop and the middle station where trains pass.
Can I also reach Pilatus by cableway?
Gondola and aerial cableway services approach from Kriens via Fräkmüntegg. The cableways operate year-round apart from a short maintenance break.
Where can I see the former steam railcars?
Two former steam railcars are displayed at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne and the German Museum in Munich.
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