Cairngorm funicular railway to remain shut until November

The service was relaunched in January 2023, but was withdrawn from service on August 25 due to issues.

STV News

14th Oct 2023

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The UK’s highest railway is to remain shut for “safety reasons” until November.

The Cairngorm Mountain Railway closed in September 2018 amid concerns over the structures supporting the tracks.

Following a £25m reinstatement programme, funded by the Scottish Government, the service was relaunched in January 2023.

However, The Highlands and Islands Enterprise took the decision to withdraw the funicular railway from service on August 25 while a series of “snagging” works were carried out.

The works were expected be completed “relatively quickly”, but on September 6, it emerged that it would not be back up and running until the end of the month.

HIE has now confirmed the works will continue into November and has apologised to visitors.

A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: “Achieving resolution of the tensioning issue has proven more difficult and time-consuming than we had anticipated at the outset. At the same time, though, there can be no short cuts when passenger safety is concerned.

“We apologise to Cairngorm visitors for having to withdraw the service while these works are carried out.

“We are now looking forward to completing the project during November when the operators of Cairngorm Mountain will also be carrying out their annual maintenance programme.

“Every effort will be made to reintroduce the service in good time for the start of the 2023/24 snowsports season at Cairngorm.”