Bill to repair Cairngorm funicular stands at £11.34m so far
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A Highlands MSP is claiming that the cost of repairing the Cairngorm funicular is already £1m over budget and is continuing to rise.
The Scottish Government announced in August 2020 that it would provide around £16.16m to reinstate the mountain railway.
However, Scottish Conservative Highlands regional MSP Edward Mountain has claimed that setbacks in the repair works have seen that figure ‘rise considerably’.
He said this was due to the discovery of significant flaws in the infrastructure once the reinstatement works began.
Mr Mountain said his Freedom of Information request revealed that the total funds for repairs works currently stands at £17.22m with the mountain railway still not fixed.
The MSP maintains the repair bill is over-running by £1.06m.
He said this figure will likely soar again as owners Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government are still calculating the final revised budget.
“Last summer, HIE indicated that revised costings for the repair of the funicular would be confirmed by the end of 2021,” said Mr Mountain. “However, we’re still waiting for answers and it appears that HIE are no further forward in their negotiations with the Scottish Government for further funding. What is taking them so long?
“Any funding shortfall could jeopardise the completion of the repair works. That cannot be allowed to happen, ensuring the funicular is operational as soon as possible is vital for the wider tourism industry in Badenoch and Strathspey.
“We can expect to see the cost for these repair works rise substantially and it would not be a surprise to me if they were to increase by up to 30 per cent. It is vital that this investment secures the long-term future of the resort.
“Meanwhile, we are still waiting for clarity on the legal action taken by HIE too. No action and no result will not be good enough.
“I continue to campaign for a full public inquiry into the running of Cairngorm Mountain over the last two decades – it is clear that mistakes have been made in the past which both HIE and the Scottish Government must learn from.”
An HIE spokesperson said: “In August 2021 we announced a revised timescale for the works to reinstate the funicular, due to technical and other challenges, and that there would be cost implications associated with this.
“We will publish the revised budget as soon as we are able.
“Meanwhile, the total spend to date on Cairngorm funicular reinstatement works amounts to £11,339,516. The works are still expected to complete in the autumn.
“This will be followed by work to upgrade the control systems and a period of testing and certification to obtain authorisation from the Department of Transport for the reopening of the funicular.”
“Our intention is that the funicular will be returned to public service during the winter season 2022/23 and we are doing everything we can to make sure that is the case.”
