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The UK’s highest railway is finally reopening to the public

The Cairngorm funicular was shut down in 2018. Now it’s making a comeback

Ella Doyle
Written by
Ella Doyle
Guides Editor
The Cairngorm funicular in Cairn Gorm National Park
oksana.perkins / Shutterstock.com
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Anyone remember the UK’s highest railway? Much to the disappointment of railway lovers (and skiers), it was shut down back in 2018 due to a ton of structural problems. But fear not, readers, we have great news: the UK’s most elevated railway is officially back in business, and it’s opening very soon indeed: January 26.

The Cairngorm Funicular shut down five years ago, but the Scottish government has since poured around £25 million into fixing it up so it’s ready to go again. Running up the Cairn Gorm mountain in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, it connects the mountain’s base station with its skiing area and restaurant way up the mountain – 1,097 metres up, to be exact.

It was meant to reopen last year, but got delayed by blizzards (and Covid). Now, after receiving the necessary safety certificates from the UK Department of Transport, it’s back just in time for the end of snow sports season. Scotland ski trip, anyone? 

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