New checks ordered for hill railway

CAIRNGORM Mountain has warned the operation of the funicular will be restricted in the coming weeks whilst further inspections are carried out on the attraction.

The operators announced on Monday that there could be disruption. They posted online: "Following on from observations made during our annual funicular structure inspection, engineers who specialise in structures like ours have been brought in to carry out further inspection, analysis and investigations.

"To allow this scope of works to proceed, we have been instructed to restrict the parameters of our normal operating procedures.

"These restrictions involve us monitoring the weather, wind speed and carriage capacity and are likely at times to restrict the opening of the funicular over the next few weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers."

Cairngorm Mountain declined to comment further on the issues affecting the funicular's operation. Updates will be provided on the company's website.

An Aviemore Business Association spokesman said: "We are concerned one of the area's major tourist attractions is dysfunctional particularly as it has already been closed for a month in the late spring.

"Tourists have recently been disappointed to find the funicular railway closed during their holiday time here in the strath and it is to be hoped that the problems – of whatever nature – are resolved soon."