EXCLUSIVE: Watch as the Cairngorm funicular makes its return to track after nearly 18 months
The Cairngorm funicular is back on track for the first time since August 2023 after being removed from service on safety grounds.
Snowsports fans will be delighted to see the mountain railway emerge from the Base Station this morning as testing starts for its return.
A Cairngorm Mountain spokesman posted: “This morning the Cairngorm Ops team are delighted to be starting their series of maintenance activities, checks and inspection requirements on the funicular electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems.
“These are carried out prior to a site visit from an engineer from Garaventa who will be onsite later in the week to carry out scheduled annual inspections of the mechanical systems.
“We will provide an update later in the week with our progress.
“This series of activities will involve frequent movements of the carriages up and down funicular viaduct between the base station and top station.”
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Remediation works on the Cairngorm funicular railway are continuing with the aim of returning the train into service ‘as soon as possible’.
A spokesman for the resort owners Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: “A new strand of work is underway to prepare the Cairngorm funicular railway to return to service this winter.
“Staff at Cairngorm Mountain have today begun a series of maintenance activities on the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems that govern the movement of the two funicular carriages up and down the 1.8km viaduct.
“Later this week, an engineer from Swiss funicular specialist Garaventa, who supplied and maintain the carriages and control system, will join the local team to carry out scheduled annual inspections of the mechanical systems.
“The trains are expected to complete frequent trial runs on the mountainside over the next week or so.
“Meanwhile, remediation works are continuing on the viaduct structure, led by Balfour Beatty on behalf of HIE.
“Although the remediation programme was substantially completed before Christmas, inspections identified a range of items requiring further work and teams from Balfour Beatty returned to the site early in January.
“HIE continues to aim for the funicular to be safely back in service as soon as possible within the current winter season and will provide a firm date for relaunch once this can be confirmed.”
Crews working for Balfour Beatty have been carrying out an extensive programme to strengthen the 1.8 kilometres viaduct focusing on the tension of joints, beams and diaphragms.
So far the overall estimated repair work for the funicular is more than £25 million.
Once the funicular specialist Swiss-based Garaventa has completed its work, the railway will be handed over to resort operator Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd for staff training and final preparations before passengers are again welcomed on board.
While these actions are under way, HIE, which has overall responsibility for the funicular reinstatement programme, will continue to liaise with the Health and Safety Executive.
