World's steepest funicular railway opens in Switzerland

Certainly not for those with an aversion to dizzying heights, Switzerland welcomed its new funicular line, the Stoos Bahn, this week – and with a climb gradient of 110 percent, it's officially the world's steepest.

The futuristic-looking cylindrical carriages have been designed so that passengers remain upright, irrespective of the changing slope.

Floors adjust as the carriage climbs, up to 360 feet at its steepest point, over a distance of 100 metres.

The railway line runs from Schywz to the mountain village of Stoos, around 1300 metres above sea level.

That sharp gradient incline is sure to leave many a passenger breathless, particularly tourists who aren't as accustomed to riding cable cars as locals — watch it in action in the clip above.

The Stoos Bahn took 14 years to build – two years more than estimated – at a cost of around $68 million (52 million Swiss francs).

The line was created as a tourist attraction and a way to connect communities between Schywz and the alpine village of Stoos.

For those who get vertigo or find themselves reaching for a sickie bag at the mere sight of that sheer drop (we don't blame you), you can take some comfort in the fact that the journey lasts just four minutes in total.