Extraordinary £7 million upside-down railway that whizzes passengers over rivers

Suspended in the air, dangling up to 29ft in certain parts of the journey, this upside down railway truly is an incredible feat of engineering - and has been running for more than a century
This spectacular upside-down railway may look like a fairground ride - but has actually been transporting commuters and tourists for more than 100 years.
Suspended in the air, dangling up to 29ft above the ground at certain parts of the journey, the Wuppertal Schwebebahn is an incredible feat of engineering. Construction of the upside-down railway began in the summer of 1898 and the first test drive took place in the winter, but it wasn't until 1901 that a section of the track was opened to the public.
‌
Classed as the world's oldest suspended railway, this enchanting train, located in the hip town of Wuppertal in Germany, cost a whopping 16 million German marks, which would have converted to around £7.79 million. Factoring in inflation, this would have cost a staggering £82.5 million today.
‌
"My fascination with the Schwebebahn lies in the way it was constructed over 100 years ago," Cologne-based architect Christian Busch told CNN Trave l back in 2022. "To realise such a project without computer-aided systems would be unthinkable today. A ride in the Schwebebahn allows the passenger an extraordinary insight into the life of the local residents and really looks like a fairground attraction from days gone by."
Over the past century, the railway has undergone several major refurbs - with sleek new carriages replacing the original ones. However, you can still privately hire the first 1901 carriage, named Kaiserwagan after Kaiser Wilhelm II took a test ride on it.
In 1950, the Schwebebahn transported Tuffi the circus elephant above the ground. However, the racket from fellow passengers and journalists was too much for the animal, who ended up trampling a row of seats before jumping through a window into the river below.
Luckily, Tuffi wasn't badly injured by the incident - and now the train is reserved exclusively for humans. A small statue of the elephant was however constructed on the river where Tuffi landed, which has become a popular tourist sight for holidaymakers.
‌
Now, the Wuppertal Schwebebahn (which is technically classed as a suspension monorail) consists of 20 stops and attracts more than 80,000 people every day. "It is therefore an everyday means of transport for the inhabitants of the city, but also a popular tourist attraction," the train's official website states.
"Many sights can easily be reached on foot from the 20 suspension railway stations. Since August 1, 2019, only the new 'Generation 15' railcars have been in service."
Guided by huge iron arches, the railway track whizzes over cars, shops, and pedestrians, before offering stunning aerial views of the serpentine river. 24-hour tickets cost €8.80 per person, or €4.40 for any additional passengers. Children under six go free, while elephants are asked to find alternative methods of transport.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time Out Dubai

3 hours ago

• Time Out Dubai

DXB flight cancellations: Disruption on flights to Iraq, Iran and more

This article was last updated at 9:21am on Monday June 23. Travellers flying out of Dubai International Airport could face disruption following the cancellation of multiple flights in the region. DXB-based airlines Emirates and flydubai have cancelled flights following the closure of airspace over parts of the region. All Emirates routes to Iran and Iraq have been cancelled up to and including Monday June 30. Affected Emirates routes include those to and from Baghdad, Basra, and Tehran, while flydubai has also suspended flights in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged all UAE nationals, residents and visitors to contact airlines directly for the latest updates on flight schedules. The UAE's emergency airport response plan is currently in place to ensure the safety and smooth movement of passengers affected by the ongoing situation. Important Notice from #UAEMoFA to UAE nationals, residents, and visitors regarding flight schedules. #Twajudi — MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) June 14, 2025 The latest Dubai Airports travel advice confirms that flight operations are cancelled or delayed at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Read next: UAE flight cancellations: What to know if you're travelling today The latest update states: 'Due to recent airspace closures affecting parts of the region, flights operating out of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) may experience delays, cancellations, or diversions. 'We strongly advise all travellers to check with their airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport, and to allow extra time for their journey.' Emirates cancels DXB flights to Iraq and Iran (Credit: Emirates) The airline has suspended all routes travelling to Iran and Iraq. The airline's routes from DXB to the Iranian capital of Tehran, plus the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Basra are suspended up to and including Monday June 30. The DXB-based airline recently suspended flights to Amman in Jordan and Beirut in Lebanon until Sunday June 22, but is now serving the destinations again. Emirates passengers with connecting flights through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq, Iran or with onwards flydubai connections to suspended destinations will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice. Emirates has advised its customers to contact travel agents or their local office for rebooking options. Anyone departing or arriving at DXB has been advised to check their flight status for the latest information. A statement on the Emirates website apologised for any inconvenience. The statement said: 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. We continue to closely monitor developments. 'The safety of our passengers, employees and operations will always be our top priority.' flydubai suspends flights (Credit: flydubai) flydubai has confirmed that its flight schedule continues to be affected by the ongoing situation in the region. The airline has extended the suspension of travel to four nations in the region until Monday June 30. A statement by the Dubai-based carrier said that the safety of passengers remains its highest priority. The airline's services to Jordan and Lebanon have resumed in the daytime from Tuesday June 17, but nighttime flights are still suspended. A flydubai spokeswoman said: 'flydubai flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria will remain suspended until June 30. 'We continue to monitor the situation in Jordan and Lebanon, where flights have resumed as daytime operations from June 17. 'We have reinstated flights across our network where conditions permit, though some delays may be expected due to ongoing airspace restrictions. 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers and appreciate their understanding during this time. 'The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.'

Daily Mirror

8 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Mum has lunch with family in Italy - costs less than Alton Towers

Gill Martini-Pullen had searched high and low for a fun day out to treat her two kids without breaking the bank - and what she found was incredible A mum went for an international lunchtime trip that was cheaper than a day out to Alton Towers. Gill Martini-Pullen, 49, looked for an affordable yet exciting day out for her two children but found theme park tickets like those for Alton Towers, priced at £68, too steep. The Kent-based business support assistant grew tired of the usual local options and stumbled upon the idea of a one-day foreign trip. To her surprise, she managed to take her kids, aged 11 and 15, off to Bergamo, Italy, for a total cost of just £212 – and they were back home in the UK and tucked up in bed by night-time. ‌ "The thought of being able to go to another country for the day was so exciting," Gill said to Luxury Travel Daily. "A day trip to London or a theme park is very expensive, especially when you factor in travel costs, food and drink. I wanted to treat them to something fun and be back home for their bedtimes." ‌ The thrifty mum managed to get bargain flights with Ryanair for a mere £80 and parked at a nearby Premier Inn for only £12 to avoid hefty airport fees. They embarked on their Italian trip at 7.25am, after a modest £4 shuttle ride to the airport. She said: "We spent the day wandering around the pretty streets of Bergamo, stopping at a lovely restaurant for lunch. "We looked in lots of cute shops, then walked most of the way back down to the lower town before catching the bus back to the airport. With time to spare, we crossed the road to the huge shopping centre for a little look." For their midday meal, they tucked into pizza and gnocchi, with Gill treating herself to an Aperol Spritz, all for £46, followed by cake and gelato for £10. They then spent £13 on traditional Italian pesto and pasta to whip up a dinner back home the following evening and grabbed a quick bite at McDonald's in the airport for £11. Their 9pm flight was delayed, but they didn't let it dampen their spirits, and despite the hold-up, the children were tucked up in bed by 1am instead of the planned 11.30pm. Gill recommends considering a midweek trip to find the best bargains. She also suggests having a look at sites like Skyscanner. ‌ A trip to Alton Towers can cost £204 for three 'walk up price' theme park tickets, according to their website - although it is far cheaper if done online. But the family would also have had to pay to travel back and forth, as well as get food, drink and petrol. Gill added: "Doing extreme day trips is such a good way to get tasters of other countries. I'm looking at going to Paris next or to the Bucharest Thermal Spa with my girls. "The kids loved being able to say they went to Italy for lunch rather than the usual theme park. And they can't wait to do more. "Their feet were hurting after 25,000 steps, but we had a great time."

Rhyl Journal

8 hours ago

• Rhyl Journal

Brexit rules spark ‘clear demand' for more motorhome parking, lobby group says

Boosting provision for these vehicles would generate more revenue for local businesses and increase the number of visitors to tourist destinations outside the peak summer season, the Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) said. Aires is a French word used to describe designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term for motorhomes and campervans – which are much more common in continental Europe than the UK. Post-Brexit rules mean UK passport holders are prohibited from being in the Schengen area – which covers most of the European Union and some other European nations – for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'