The troubled Cairngorm funicular will be repaired – because fixing it is cheaper than clearing the mountain.
But business leaders fear the beleaguered railway faces closure for two further winters for “extensive” repairs and upgrades, leaving “a huge challenge” for the community.
The commitment to save the funicular and bring forward ambitious projects to replace carriages and the computer control system was made by the landowners, government-owned Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), who took over operations last winter following the financial collapse of previous operator Natural Retreats.
Spokesman James Gibbs said: “We have an indicative cost of repairs, which is less than the cost of removing the funicular.”
A previous costing for reinstating the mountain to its original condition was put at £30-£50 million.
The mountain railway has been out of action since October last year when major structural defects were discovered.
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HIE has so far refused to publish an engineers’ report into the repairs required, but the Press and Journal has learned the extent is much more than originally anticipated.
A source said: “Half of the piers and five out of six anchor blocks need some reinforcement, most beams need reinforcement as well at the joins that connect the beams to the piers.”
Mr Gibbs said: “The intention is to repair the funicular, subject to final approval from the Scottish Government, and once all the costs are known. The repairs needed to the structure are very extensive.
“There are also challenges of co-ordinating the repairs with replacement of the computer control system and other essentials such as bogies, gearbox upgrades, tensioning systems, which were due for replacement in two years’ time at the 20-year point, but which have been brought forward in order to avoid a second break in the funicular’s operation.
“The funicular will not operate this winter coming. There is a chance it could be ready for winter 2020 but we cannot, right now, say with any certainty that it will be.
“Plans beyond the funicular, including additional uplift, will be developed in the site masterplan. This process is set to start in September, and will involve a full consultation with and opportunity for input from the local community.”
HIE officials recently met with members of Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust (AGCT), which hopes to take the resort into public ownership in the future.
Director Mike Dearman said: “It sounds like the funicular does have a future, which met with a mixed reaction in the Strath.
“A number of people at the meeting were asking if HIE had considered the case for removing the funicular and replacing it with a more effective uplift. HIE assured us they had done that analysis and that they believed repair was the best option.
“It is clear that with repairs to the funicular not being expected to be completed for at least two more winters, Cairngorm will continue to face huge challenges.”
