Ongoing repair works to Cairngorm funicular railway works to resume following winter closure

Ongoing repair works to the Cairngorm funicular railway have resumed following the festive period.

The highest railway in the UK reopened in January 2023 after four years of repairs costing £25m – more than the initial cost of building the line – but shut down again in August that year.

It closed again in August 2024 due to “snagging works” with operators hoping it would return to service within weeks.

In December, it was confirmed that further repairs were required to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct.

Once works are completed, Cairngorm Estate owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said mechanical safety testing, trial runs and staff training will be carried out by a team of engineers from Swiss funicular specialist Garaventa.

The team resumed remediation works on Monday, January 6, and said they hope to have the funicular functional “as soon as possible”.

It comes after a Highland MSP called for a public inquiry into the failings of the government agency-owned funicular railway.

Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain said in April: “We were promised the mountain was going to be open before this skiing season and we’ve had some great snow, from the beginning of December up on top of the mountain, but couldn’t access it.

“It means the 15,000-odd skiiers that we’ve had are much less than we should have had and that means businesses across the whole of Speyside have suffered.”

Snowsports enthusiasts are advised to check condition reports which are regularly updated on the resort’s website.