The Bartlett School of Architecture

Iain Borden is Professor of Architecture & Urban Culture, and Vice-Dean Education, at The Bartlett, University College London, UK. An active skateboarder, photographer, film watcher and urban wanderer, he has written more than 100 books and articles on these subjects, as well as several titles on architects, buildings and cities.

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Steepest funicular

The world’s steepest funicular railway is the Schwyz–Stoos funicular in the Alpine resort of Stoos, Switzerland, where gradients reach 47.7 degrees (110%). Opened in December 2017 at a cost of CHF52 million (£39.5 million; $53 million), the four 34-person carriages are designed as rotating cylinders, which allow passengers to stay upright throughout their four-minute journey. The funicular opened on 15 December 2017 and carries passengers – 136 per trip – on a 1,740-metre (5,708-foot) journey through an elevation of 744 metres (2,440 feet) from Schwyz-Schlattli to the mountain resort of Stoos.