Groundwork being laid for repair of Cairngorm funicular
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THE owners of the funicular have said they are laying the groundwork for repairs to the funicular should the business case get the go-ahead from the Scottish Government.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has provided an update on the mountain railway which has been out of action since September 2018.
An HIE spokesman said: "HIE’s funicular project team is continuing to progress several inter-linked workstreams that will enable repair works to get under way quickly, should the go-ahead be given.
"As previously reported, HIE’s preferred option is to repair the funicular and bring it back into services as quickly as possible.
"However, a final decision will depend on approval of a business case that is currently in preparation and the works will also require planning consent and regulatory approval.
"The present workstreams are focused on detailed design work; peer review; ecology and planning work for the planning application; preparing a safety case for the Department for Transport, and the construction methodology which will align with the needs of the operating company and public access to the mountain."
Meanwhile HIE has said artificial snow from the resort's Snowfactory on the lower slope is proving really popular for beginners, ski clubs and ski schools.
The spokesman said: "The weekend forecast is indicating that there could be some snowfall on the mountain.
"We’re keeping fingers crossed that this will be enough to enable the surface lifts to operate."
The funicular was closed over safety concerns after cracks and issues with the bearings were discovered in parts of the concrete beams that carry the two kilometres track from the Base Station to Ptarmigan top station.
Updates on the latest snow conditions are provided at www.cairngormmountain.co.uk
