The title for the steepest railway in the world in 2026 belongs to the Stoosbahn (Stoos Funicular) in Schwyz, Switzerland. This technical marvel features a maximum gradient of 110% (approximately 47.7 degrees). To maintain passenger comfort at such an extreme angle, the Stoosbahn uses innovative rotating spherical cabins that automatically level themselves as the slope changes, ensuring that passengers remain standing on a flat surface throughout the journey. It travels 1,740 meters from the valley station to the car-free village of Stoos in about 4 to 7 minutes. For cogwheel (rack) railways, the record holder remains the Pilatus Railway, also in Switzerland, which climbs Mount Pilatus with a maximum gradient of 48%. While funiculars like the Stoosbahn are generally steeper because they are pulled by cables, the Pilatus Railway is the steepest that uses a rack-and-pinion system. These railways are bucket-list destinations for engineering enthusiasts, offering some of the most dramatic Alpine vistas achievable by rail while demonstrating the height of Swiss precision and innovation.