A cable car is superficially similar to a funicular, but differs from such a system in that its cars are not permanently attached to the cable and can stop independently, whereas a funicular has cars that are permanently attached to the propulsion cable, which is itself stopped and started.

No, a funicular and a cable car are two distinct types of transit systems, though they both use cables for propulsion. A funicular (or cliff railway) operates on fixed tracks and typically features two cars that are permanently attached to a single cable. The two cars act as counterweights: as one car ascends the steep incline, the other descends, making the system incredibly energy-efficient. Funicular cars cannot stop independently of each other. In contrast, a "cable car" (like those in San Francisco) also runs on tracks but is pulled by a continuously moving cable hidden beneath the street. The driver uses a "grip" to latch onto or release the cable to move and stop, and multiple cars can move along the same line independently. Furthermore, the term "cable car" is often used loosely to describe aerial tramways or gondola lifts, which are suspended in the air rather than running on the ground. A funicular is essentially a specialized railroad for steep slopes, whereas a cable car is a more flexible, often urban, transport system that doesn't rely on the "balancing" physics of a paired-car design.