Cairngorm Mountain funicular railway will return to service, says Highlands and Islands Enterprise, but not before summer 2020

HIGHLANDS and Islands Enterprise have said they intend for the funicular railway to run again at Cairngorm Mountain but no date has been set for its return.

They have provided an update on the funicular although the detailed inspection findings have still yet to be released with numerous deadlines for this missed.

An HIE spokesman said: "Although the funicular presents no immediate danger to the public, investigations by specialist engineers have concluded that piers, beams and foundations all need to be strengthened, and new bearings installed, before it can run safely again.

"HIE has consistently stated that its ambition is to repair the structure and return the mountain railway to service, which all investigations carried out so far indicate would be technically achievable.

"A combination of public procurement regulations and extreme weather conditions over winter mean that the earliest a programme of repairs could begin would be spring or summer 2020. The funicular will therefore remain out of service over winter 2019-20.

"While it is not running, snowsports access is planned to be maintained through a combination of artificial snow making at lower levels and ski tows to the higher runs."

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