The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Plans lodged to help funicular get back on track
Tourism: Proposals aim to protect environment
Peat will be temporarily removed and streams may have to be diverted to protect the environment during repairs to Britain’s highest railway.
The troubled Cairngorm Funicular closed in September 2018 due to structural problems.
A planning application includes proposals to mitigate environmental harm and says the mountainside must be monitored for a decade.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which owns the funicular, has submitted the plans, along
with a consultant’s report on environmental impact.
This says soil will need to be stripped then replaced, while streams could be diverted to prevent them becoming polluted.
The railway, which gives access to the upper slopes of Cairn Gorm Mountain ski centre near Aviemore, could cost more than £10 million to repair, but removing it could top £13m.
The planned work includes excavating the pier bases and foundations, laying concrete and propping up affected piers.
The application is
expected to be called in by the Cairngorm National Park Authority.
Carroll Buxton, interim chief executive at HIE, said: “The preparation of this planning application has been a very complex process, requiring detailed design and methodology considerations before environmental impact could be assessed.
“We have always said we are keen to restore the funicular to normal operations, subject to approval of the final businesses case and availability of funding.
“However, we need to have all necessary consents in place before any works can begin, which is why we have applied for planning consent now.
“Subject to planning approval and final business case approval, our aim is to start work soon after the planning meeting.”
Built at a cost of £26m, the funicular connects a base station with a restaurant 1,097m (3,599ft) up Cairn Gorm mountain.
The Scottish Government will have to approve the repairs once the final cost is known.