THE nation’s highest railway has returned to service following a four-year programme of work.
The Cairngorm Funicular near Aviemore shuttered in September 2018 due to structural issues.
The funicular reopened to the public at the start of 2023 following £25 million of renovations and repairs before, it closed once again in August of that year due to continuing issues.
The owner of the rail service, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said the work had now been completed. The agency announced that the 2km railway would run a regular service throughout the day, seven days a week.
Tim Hurst, interim CEO of the resort operator Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd, said: “The Cairngorm Mountain team are overjoyed to be welcoming customers onto the funicular railway once more.
“Following confirmation from our parent company Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the railway has been handed over to us at CMSL to operate once more.
“We would like to thank all our visitors for their patience whilst remediation took place.”
The funicular railway initially opened in 2001, and cost £19.5m. Its track connects a base station with a restaurant and a ski area up to Cairn Gorm – one of the UK’s highest mountains.
Regarding the re-opening, Scottish Government Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “I recognise this is a pivotal moment for Highland residents, businesses, workers and the many tourists who visit the region every year.
“The funicular is a top attraction, acting as a gateway to some of Scotland’s most breath-taking views. It also provides valued support to local, independent businesses, particularly in the hospitality and sports sectors.
“It reopening is a boost to Scotland’s rural economy, a boost to local people and a boost to Scotland.”
Before the closure, the funicular's operators estimated that it transported around 300,000 visitors each year, with hopes set for a return to form for the resort attraction.
