Switzerland is modernizing the steepest cogwheel railway in the world

After undergoing the modernization process, the Pilatus cogwheel railway, located in the mountain range of the same name in central Switzerland, has been put into operation, according to the railway portal Railway Supply.

This 800 mm gauge railway was built in 1889 and electrified in 1936. The gradients on the route reach 48%. The line ascends to the summit of Mount Pilatus, where a historic hotel is located. Until recently, the line was operated by motor coaches dating back to 1937.

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The project to modernize the line and update the rolling stock began development in 2016. In 2018, a contract was signed with Stadler for the construction of eight passenger motor coaches and one freight coach.

All of them were delivered in 2022 and began operating alongside the old coaches.

Passenger transportation on the cogwheel railway operates from May to November, but in 2023 the season had to start a month later.

Now only the new coaches are in service, which have a length of 12.3 meters and can reach a speed of 15 km/h uphill and no more than a 39% gradient, and 12 km/h (previously limited to 9 km/h). The control cab coach can accommodate 46 passengers, and the second coach can accommodate 48 passengers.

The coaches are powered by a 1550 V DC overhead contact line.

The Pilatus cogwheel railway uses a control system developed in Austria, which utilizes RFID sensors and radio communication channels.

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