Funicular route

Penang Hill Railway

Air Itam → Penang Hill · Malaysia

Distance

2 km

Fastest time

5 min

Top speed

36 km/h

Operator

Penang Hill Corporation

Train

Garaventa air-conditioned coaches (2011)

Countries

Malaysia

In service since

1923

Riders per year

≈ 1.9M

Page last updated 2026-07-23 · figures are published values, not live data · corrections log

Malaysia’s only funicular since 1923: the Swiss-rebuilt line climbs 691 m through what was once the steepest funicular tunnel in the world.

More funicular routes

• 
  Stoosbahn

  Schwyz (Schlattli) → Stoos · 1.74 km · 4 min

  Stoosbahnen AG · Rotating barrel cabins by Garaventa (2017)

  The world’s steepest funicular: a 110% maximum gradient climbed by barrel cabins that rotate to keep the floor level, 744 m up to car-free Stoos.

• 
  Niesenbahn

  Mülenen → Niesen Kulm · 3.5 km · 28 min

  Niesenbahn AG · Two-section funicular; car change at Schwandegg

  Climbs 1,643 m over 3.5 km up the pyramid of the Niesen — and the service stairway alongside is the longest on earth at 11,674 steps.

• 
  Gelmerbahn

  Handegg → Gelmersee · 1.03 km · 10 min

  Grimselwelt (KWO) · Open-air 24-seat cars of 1926, public rides since 2001

  An open-car ride up a 106% grade — Europe’s steepest funicular until Stoos overtook it in 2017 — built to serve the Gelmersee dam works.

• 
  Funiculaire Sierre–Crans-Montana

  Sierre → Crans-Montana · 4.19 km · 13 min

  SMC · Fully renewed cars, track and drive (2022)

  Switzerland’s longest funicular: 4.2 km and 927 m of climb from the Rhône valley vineyards at Sierre to the Crans-Montana plateau.

More train routes in Malaysia.