Swiss mountain railway operator Jungfraubahnen has appointed Bern civil engineering consultancy IUB to look into the feasibility of building a funicular or fast lift between the Lauter-brunnen Valley and Jungfraujoch station, situated 3 454 m above sea level near the summit of the famous mountain.

Passengers would use the existing metre-gauge Strub rack railway in one direction and the faster link in the other, cutting the journey time sufficiently for the trip to become a half-day excursion.

'The world's longest tunnel lift would facilitate even better use of marketing potential, with practically no effect on the landscape', the company said. The feasibility study will also look at any medical effects of a rapid 2 600 m ascent.

• The Jungfraujoch terminus of the metre-gauge Jungfraubahn is the highest station in Europe at 3 454 m