As predicted on Parkswatch (see here) the funicular will not be re-opening for the end of December “as hoped” because Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) still need to prove the repairs undertaken by Balfour Beatty have made the railway structure safe. HIE did not announce the news until Xmas Eve (see here). Until then the evidence suggests they had been hell-bent on trying to short-cut health and safety processes:
“Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.”
Moreover, why remove the scaffolding when HIE is not even sure of the “scope and nature of the outstanding works”?
“Cairngorm Estate owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), along with the contractor and consultants, will review the scope and nature of the outstanding works early in January, with a view to bringing the funicular back as early as possible in the new year.”
“At the same time, HIE will maintain ongoing dialogue with Health and Safety Executive”.
HIE have not, so far as I am aware, publicly revealed before that they were in discussions with the Health and Safety Executive about the funicular. So why are they now getting involved unless Balfour Beatty have breached the health and safety at work regulations?
HSE’s involvement will have implications for HIE’s consultants, SEQUS, who are responsible for the safety case and LECS UK, the regulatory inspectors, who act for the UK Department for Transport. So why does the news release not mention their role?
The key issue here, which HIE has never explained, is how seven months after the repaired funicular structure was signed off as safe in January 2023, it had to be closed again for safety reasons. The basic problem is the the design was never fit for purpose and the whole structure appears to be cracking up. No sooner has one set of safety issues apparently been addressed than new issues appear, hence why “further work is required in some areas”.
There was no mention in the news release about what HIE intended to do to recompense people who had bought Early Bird Season passes under the mistaken apprehension that the funicular would be re-open for this winter season:
At least HIE have stopped selling full price passes but that is another problem they will have to sort out in the New Year.
As the £millions being spent by HIE on the funicular continues to grow, no politician seeking election to the Scottish Parliament in 2026 can ignore this scandal any longer. The time to abolish HIE and its southern counterpart, Scottish Enterprise, comes closer. Over the last 50 years HIE has demonstrated, with its performance on Cairn Gorm, that these enterprise quangos are a waste of time and money. We would all be better off if the Scottish Government decided to replace these quangos with strengthened powers and resources for economic development by elected councillors on local authorities.
Meanwhile, on Cairn Gorm, we need political commitment to develop a new uplift and trail system for walking, biking and snowsports that is entirely independent of the funicular. Outdoor recreation on this mountain needs to continue, without any hindrance from the disastrous funicular, whether it is working or not.
Simply could not agree more with your comments regarding the costly uselessness of these Quangos. Time we had revitalized local government structures.
I also agree with you, Dave. Just taking the long trail of very costly mistakes HIE has made over the past 20 to 25 years on
their own, what confidence can any thinking person have with HIE and its ability to cost-effectively support the highlands and islands economy? I can think of several major (multi-million pound) mistakes that Scottish Enterprise has made, despite having little to do with them.
Yes, the enterprise agencies, along with their very high operating overheads need to go and devolve these powers and budgets down to reformed local governments.
Thanks Gordon. Just to clarify on dates – the problems on Cairn Gorm originated in 197I when the upper slopes were transferred from Forestry Commission ownership to ownership by the recently established quango Highlands and Islands Development Board. This was despite strong opposition from the FC who quite rightly anticipated this would lead to disjointed management and financial problems. HIDB immediately embarked on a series of failed projects on the mountain, culminating in the proposed western expansion into Lurchers Gully. HIDB morphed into HIE in 1991 and soon after embarked on their funicular adventure, telling everyone this would be private sector funded. A world wide search for private sector partners produced zero response, leaving the existing private sector partner, Bank of Scotland, shouldering more of the financial burden. This farce will not end until HIE and Scottish Enterprise are abolished or, at the very least, HIE ownership of land and facilities on Cairn Gorm is terminated.
Spot on David.
HIE need to just get rid of this useless carbuncle. Just admit it’s a farce and stop wasting money on it. No one is surprised by the fact that it’s still not up n running.
Why anyone should trust the weasel words (sorry for insulting good, honest Weasels!) of HIE, Balfour or, for that matter, Morrison Construction who claimed a degree of expertise for this project beggars belief. Scottish taxpayers, local communities & outdoor activists have been utterly skunnered & duped by the romantics which first generated this farce. But I fear, this pantomime as NK calls it won’t end happily ever after whilst those that have profited will walk away with their wallets untouched!
It is so sad that all the signs remain in place for the Cairngorm Mountain Railway. Only after visitors have parked, paid, and walked to the ticket office do they find that it is closed. Getting close to fraud.