Build Scotland Construction Directory
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Share this page
Construction News
16/10/2023

Cairngorm Funicular Engineering Works To Continue

Construction News Image
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has announced that engineering works to address technical issues on the Cairngorm funicular railway will continue into November.

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.

Engineers have been using specialist equipment throughout September and October 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.

A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: "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 apologise to Cairngorm visitors for having to withdraw the service while these works are carried out.

-- Advertisement --
NorthernAsbestosServicesLtd

"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.

"Every effort will be made to reintroduce the service in good time for the start of the 2023/24 snowsports season at Cairngorm."

Cairngorm Mountain remains open to visitors, with access available to a wide range of family-friendly activities and facilities in the heart of the national park.

These include the newest addition of a mountain bike park, fun tubing slides for all ages, café, walking trails, a mountain garden, and camera obscura.

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 HIE contractor Balfour Beatty, ran from November 2020 until November 2022 and the service was relaunched in January 2023.

The need to restore tension in the joint assemblies was identified during a 12-month 'snagging' programme that had been included in the reinstatement programme to identify and treat any issues that might emerge once the railway was back up and running.

The funicular is a unique and complex structure, comprising a mostly single track and a short loop section where upward and downward trains can pass one another.

The 1.7km viaduct is supported by 94 piers of varying heights, each one effectively a small bridge. It ascends 450 metres up Cairn Gorm, with the track entering a 300m tunnel in its final stage leading into the top station.

Technical challenges involved in the current works are compounded by the mountain location, where access can prove difficult and weather and temperature conditions are prone to sudden and dramatic change.

Latest Construction News

22/11/2024

SP Energy Networks has announced a major investment in Britain's electricity grid, selecting 19 preferred partners to deliver a £5.4bn supply chain programme. This significant initiative aims to meet increasing energy demand and facilitate future growth. The selected companies, many of which are ...
22/11/2024

Edinburgh City Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on a new strategy to revitalise Princes Street and the wider Waverley Valley. The vision aims to create a more vibrant and welcoming city centre, attracting investment, supporting businesses, and enhancing the visitor ...
22/11/2024

Ener-G Services Limited, a leading UK electrical engineering company specialising in renewables, marine, and offshore sectors, has expanded its operations in Westhill, Aberdeenshire. The company has leased Unit 6E at Kingshill Commercial Park, a 2,500 sq ft space, on a 5-year lease. This new ...
22/11/2024

A consortium of leading scientists, industry experts, and academic institutions has joined forces to accelerate Scotland's offshore wind sector. The £2.5 million project, led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the University of Dundee and the Forth and Tay Offshore cluster (FTO), ...
22/11/2024

The Port of Aberdeen and Turner & Townsend were highly commended in the 'Engineering, Construction & Infrastructure Project of the Year' category at the APM Project Management Awards 2024. The award recognises excellence in project management and the positive impact on end-users. The £420 million ...
22/11/2024

South Lanarkshire Council's £10 million fire safety improvement programme has reached a significant milestone, with CCG (Scotland) completing installations in over 1,700 high-rise residences across East Kilbride and Cambuslang. The Glasgow-based construction firm has been working closely with the ...
22/11/2024

SSEN Transmission, a key player in the UK's energy transition, is set to further expand its workforce and move into a new, sustainable office space in Glasgow. The company's commitment to net zero and the increasing demand for green energy workers has led to significant growth, with the number of ...
22/11/2024

Scottish Water is investing in the upgrade of its Loch Eck clean water plant in Dunoon. The project involves replacing outdated dry well pumps with new, more reliable pumps capable of operating in both wet and dry conditions. WGM Engineering, an RSK Group company, has been tasked with carrying out ...
22/11/2024

Scottish Land & Estates has expressed serious concerns over the Scottish Government's Land Reform Bill, particularly the provisions that would allow ministers to force landowners to sell large estates in lots. Sarah-Jane Laing, the organisation's chief executive, stated that while the land-based ...
22/11/2024

Clark Contracts employees have once again shown their commitment to community engagement by volunteering at Silverburn Park in Leven. On Thursday, 21st November, 16 members of the team spent their day planting over 400 trees and carrying out other landscaping tasks. This latest volunteering effort ...
Morris & Spottiswood LtdRBT Underfloor LimitedJGasJohnston Oils LimitedThe Big Block Co LtdFour Seasons Scotland Design & Build LtdEuro-Fab (Scotland)Gas Call Services LtdDryburgh Associates LimitedCaldwell Cleaning Services
Terms and Conditions
2024/11/23 08:33:33