I know that some people cannot be persuaded into any form of cable car whatever the safety record or weather conditions. This does not mean that yoy have to miss out on the mountain peaks.


I have put this list together of mountains and other high spots accessible by rail or funicular. Not all of these will get you to the peak of the individual mountains. Some of these do have cable cars as an alternative.


As I only travel by rail in Switzerland, unless somone is giving me a lift, I haven't included mountains accessible by road. One of you who is a driver may wish to create a similar list for car drivers and motorcyclists.


I am sure this list is not complete, but I don't think I have missed many off. Please feel free to add any others.


Check the individual websites for operating times. Several of these are seasonal.




Brienz Rothorn
http://www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch/en.html
Steam or diesel trains from Brienz to the summit. Try to get one of the steam trains if possible.


Bürgenstock – Hammetschwand
http://www.buergenstock.ch/en/resort/activities-recreation/buergenstock-railway.html
http://www.buergenstock.ch/en/resort...wand-lift.html
Funicular railway and lift. About a mile walk between the two. The funicular is best reached by ship from Lucerne


Gornergrat
http://www.gornergratbahn.ch/en/Pages/default.aspx
Railway from opposite Zermatt station


Harder Kulm
http://www.interlaken.ch/erlebnisse/...-kulm.html?L=3
Funicular to viewpoint overlooking Interlaken acraoss to the Jungrau


Jungfraujoch
http://www.jungfrau.ch/
They descripe it as The Top of Europe. It is possibly the most spectacular peak that can be reached by rail. Routes from Wengen or Grindelwald


Les Pleiades
http://www.montreux-riviera.com/en/c...rain/StarTrain
From Vevey via Blonay


Mount Pelarin
http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_...nne_mt_pelerin
funicular from Montreux to the hills. You can walk to the peak and go up the radio mast lift to the viewing platform


Niesen
http://www.niesen.ch/index.cfm?oid=1244&lang=en
Stunning views across lakes Brienz and Thun and across the alps.


Pilatus
http://www.pilatus.ch/content-n55-sE.html
Rack railway from Alpnachstad. Not many trains stop at Alpnachstad so it is better to get a ship from Lucerne


Rigi
http://www.rigi.ch/en/welcome.cfm
Railways from Vitznau if coming by ship from Lucerne or Arth-Goldau if coming from Zurich area


Rochers-de-Naye
http://www.fusions.ch/naye/




Schynigge Platte
http://www.schynigeplatte.info/
Rack railway from Wilderswil. Connecting trains to interlaken


Sonloup
http://www.goldenpass.ch/goldenpass_...avants_sonloup
The funicular is reached by rail from Les Avants on the Montreux Golden Pass line


Sunnega
http://www.zermatt.ch/en/page.cfm/ex...negga_paradise
Underground funicular from Zermatt. A gondola is available from Sunnegga Paradise to the Rothorn peak.


Uetleberg
http://www.uetliberg.ch/
Train direct from Zurich HB. Observation tower at the peak.

DP - Thanks a lot for that listing.

You are a terrific resource for all things Switzerland and music.

Cheers.

In case anyone is interested, I've linked this Thread to Public Transport System and to the Hiking in Switzerland thread. In both places it is relevant for folk looking for links to tranport possibilites to 'higher' places.

I put the list together to help someone who can no longer travel on cable cars due to vertigo. I have been on 13 of these 15. Just the Niesenbahn and Les Avants - Sonloup to go from these.

There are more funiculars about. See list on Wikipedia. Many of these are short funiculars and in urban areas. There are a few that should perhaps be on the list above.

I'm sorry I don't have the technical skills to add a link, but the Weissflujoch in Davos is accessible by the Parsennbahn. There are spectacular views from the top and from here it is possible to take a cable car to the Weissflugipfel (although obviously not suitable for vertigo sufferers) but great for non-skiers.

Hope this is the link you mention: DPB - Davos Parsenn Bahn.

This site also has what it claims is a complete database of the funiculars of Switzerland: Funiculars of Switzerland / Funiculaires de Suisse.

That is a great list. It is better than the Wikipedia list that I posted. It is good that it is sorted by cantons. The links to the individual websites are not very obvious. You need to click on the name in the address box at the bottom right.

Like the wikepedia list, a lot of these are urban or not public. THe wikepedia list does have one advantage, you can sort them by name, length etc.

Thanks so much for the list!

Has anyone been and would you recommend as a day trip from Basel? Sorry if I'm OT

I think Uetliberg is only of interest if you're in Zürich or the vicinity anyway. There are far more stunning places that are not significantly more difficult to get to from Basel (Rigi for example)

Yes and yes. I've been a couple of times although it's quite a while since I was last there. On a clear day the views are breathtaking, so if that's a priority for you, then check the weather reports before heading there. It really does make for a very nice day out overall. Strolling around and being in nature, savouring the views, having something to eat in the nice restaurant and so on.

Thanks amogles. That's a great tip, looks a beautiful place.
I promise I've searched, but been almost spoilt for choice with daytrips to be had, so recommendations are always good
Cheers!

Thankyou! Sounds perfect, I think I'll try both places

Hi folks
Started doing a bit of work in Zurich and Basle. But shortly I need to go to Sion and from there to Milan. I suffer from vertigo and travel only by train. I will be coming from Paris, is that route a high, spooky one ?
thanks for your help

It's a lovely train journey from Brig to Milan, especially the stretch by Maggiore. Not high, only slightly spooky bit is the long tunnel between Domodossola and Stresa (though it actually accentuates the beauty of Stresa once you emerge from the tunnel!)

Nice post - good idea!
In my immediate vicinity (sort of)...

• Locarno - Cardada http://www.cardada.ch
• Lugano - Monte Brè http://www.travel-swiss.co.uk/swiss-...monte-bre.html
• Paradiso - San Salvatore http://www.montesansalvatore.ch
• Brusino - Serpiano (Monte San Giorgio) http://www.mendrisiotto-turismo.ch/e...-serpiano.html
• Riva S. Vitale - Monte Generoso (unmissable!)http://www.montegeneroso.ch
• Piotta - Ritom (steepest funicular in EU) http://www.ritom.ch/en/la-funicolare-ritom-sa

Ciao

Paul