Cairngorm funicular update
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped.
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COWI was appointed by HIE and CML in September to carry out the investigation, which has involved excavation of some of the foundations.
They informed the organisations this week that weather, particularly strong winds and cold temperatures, had hampered their progress. While they still aim to share initial findings on 3 December as planned, it could take up to a further two weeks to complete their final report.
Susan Smith, head of business development at HIE, said:
“The closure of the funicular, while necessary for safety reason, is causing considerable concern locally among the many businesses who service the snow sports market. The sooner we find out the exact nature of the problem the better for everyone. We will then be able to plan for remedial work to be done to return the funicular to service as soon as possible.”
In the meantime, £1m worth of snow making equipment, including a snow making machine and eight snow cannons, is due to arrive at Cairngorm on Tuesday (27 November). The equipment should be fully operational within a week of arriving.
Snowmaking will guarantee snow on the lower beginner slopes, and enable ski tows to take skiers to the upper slopes when conditions there are good.
Susan Smith added:
“The efforts we and other members of the funicular response group are making will ensure the best possible snow sports experience on Cairngorm this winter. Snow making will play a major part in those efforts, along with various promotional activities planned in the coming weeks to promote the Aviemore area, including Cairngorm, as a fantastic destination for visitors.”
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped.
HIE is planning a programme of public consultation and engagement to inform the planning application.
The funicular looks set to be back in action towards the end of December or early in the new year.
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A programme of remedial works to bring Scotland’s only funicular railway back into service at Cairngorm Mountain is entering a new phase during week beginning Monday 15 April.
HIE funding will support the element of the project that focuses specifically on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.