'No guarantees' Cairngorm funicular will be running in time for start of ski season
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There are 'no guarantees' that the latest repairs to the Cairngorm funicular will be finished in time for the coming snowsports season.
Cairngorm Mountain has posted a message on its website saying that other uplift will be in operation when there is sufficient snow even if the mountain railway is not running.
But that has just prompted more concern that the funicular could remain out of action for potentially longer than many already fear.
One season ticket holder from last season who contacted the Strathy about the update, posed: "Is that them preparing to announce it is out for the season?"
From initially being due back into operation within a few weeks after being taken out of service in August, the return date for the mountain railway now seems to be open-ended.
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An HIE spokesman told the Strathy: "HIE’s contractors are continuing to work towards getting the funicular ready for the start of the winter season.
"This cannot be guaranteed, however, and Cairngorm Mountain is taking a responsible approach in ensuring customers are prepared and have assurance that other forms of uplift will be available.
"We will continue to provide updates on the current works, with as much accurate information as possible, as the situation develops."
The new message at the top of the Cairngorm Mountain's home page states: "Winter Season Pass Update: If there is sufficient snow the surface lifts will open regardless of the funicular, and season passes will be available to buy online.
"We are anticipating season passes to be available to purchase before the end of November.
"Prices will be held at this year’s early bird rate throughout the season."
HIE said last month that engineering works to address technical issues on the Cairngorm funicular railway would be completed this month.
The current project began after an inspection in late August found that the tension of ‘scarf joint assemblies’ linking vertical piers with horizontal beams on the funicular viaduct fell below the designated level.
The public agency said engineers have been using specialist equipment to restore tension in the assemblies as well as working alongside the project team to 'carry out rigorous trials and testing to ensure solutions are effective'.
HIE said in a statement last month: “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 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."
The resort remains open to visitors.
Opened in 2001, the funicular was taken out of service in October 2018 following the discovery of structural problems.
A £25m reinstatement programme, funded by the Scottish Government and HIE and led by contractor Balfour Beatty, ran from November 2020 until November 2022 and the mountain railway finally returned to service in January, earlier this year, before being pulled just eight months later.
The arrival of winter on the high tops will inevitably add another challenge to the on-going work to reinstate the funicular.
