The World’s Shortest Metro Runs Beneath an Alpine Ski Village

Deep in the Tyrolean Alps, a tiny Austrian ski resort operates one of the world’s most unusual rail systems. The underground metro in Serfaus is officially the shortest metro line on the planet, gliding silently on an air cushion and completing its entire journey in just over two minutes.

The World’s Shortest Metro Runs Beneath an Alpine Village

Serfaus is a picturesque Alpine village in western Austria. At first glance, it looks like many other Tyrolean ski destinations — wooden chalets, mountain scenery and cable cars filled with skiers. But beneath the quiet streets lies something completely unexpected: a metro system.

With a total length of just 1,280 metres, the Serfaus underground holds the world record for the shortest metro line ever built. The journey from one end to the other takes only two minutes and ten seconds.

What makes the system even more unusual is the technology itself. The trains do not run on traditional rails. Instead, the carriages float on a thin cushion of compressed air, creating an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride. The entire system is pulled using steel cables.

Reopening of Serfaus subway with new enlarged train and stations (since 1985) 🇦🇹 🚞
U-Bahn Serfaus is a cable hauled metro with a single train traveling on air cushions. #funicular #Leitner #metro #subway #cablecar #Serfaus #SerfausFissLadis #Tirol #Tyrol #Austria @SFL_Tirol pic.twitter.com/MhVVwlouVD

— Funimag (@funimag) July 22, 2019

An Alpine Traffic Crisis Forced the Village to Think Differently

Back in the 1970s, Serfaus faced a growing transport problem. Tourist numbers were exploding, but the small mountain village was never designed to handle large volumes of car traffic.

Local authorities eventually decided to ban cars from entering the centre of the resort, replacing them with shuttle buses. But even that solution quickly became insufficient as the number of visitors continued rising year after year.

Austrian engineers therefore began searching for a completely different approach — one that would preserve the peaceful Alpine atmosphere while still moving thousands of tourists efficiently, and in 1983, the village made the decision to build an underground metro system.

For several years, Serfaus effectively became a giant construction site. But the gamble paid off. By the end of 1986, the new underground line was already capable of transporting up to 1,600 passengers per hour, while the streets above remained calm and largely traffic-free.

From Impressive to Ultra-Modern

The metro received its current appearance after a major renovation in 2017. Today, spacious modern trainsets travel through the underground tunnel carrying as many as 3,000 passengers per hour. Travelling at speeds of up to 40 km/h, the trains pass through all four stations in just over two minutes.

The stations themselves are remarkably clean and modern. Digital information displays allow passengers to monitor departures in real time, meaning visitors can spend as much time as possible outside enjoying the mountain air and panoramic Alpine scenery before descending underground.

Free Metro Rides Straight to the Ski Lifts

The underground line has become one of the key reasons why Serfaus remains both peaceful and highly efficient despite heavy tourism. Visitors park their cars on the edge of the village, board the metro and arrive only minutes later directly beside the cable car station. Since 2021, access has become even more comfortable thanks to a dedicated pedestrian tunnel linking the parking area with the underground station.

And perhaps the best part for tourists? The metro is completely free to use.

_{Sources: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, MeinBezirk}