The Cairn Gorm Mountain funicular railway is, in my opinion, a great asset to Strathspey (despite some controversy!)
What is it?
The Cairngorm Funicular railway provides fast and safe access to the Ptarmigan top station at Cairngorm Mountain ski area. In our opinion, it is a major asset to the ski operation and, in summer, an important tourist attraction. However, it’s construction has attracted controversy regarding environmental impact and passenger access to the upper mountain and it has suffered protracted structural problems in recent years.
The Cairngorm Funicular and access to the mountain
A condition of European funding was that a visitor management plan had to be put in place. This is to reduce damage to the internationally-recognised Natura and SSSI wildlife habitats on the Cairngorm plateau. Furthermore, this should reduce the incidence of poorly-equipped train passengers walking out onto the plateau and becoming lost or injured.
So, since opening in 2001, train passengers are not allowed to leave the main building and walk out onto Cairngorm summit, or the plateau. Therefore, going up on the train is not an option for our guided walks and those wishing to hike to Ben Macdui, for example, must make the ascent entirely on foot. However, passengers can go outside onto the excellent viewing terrace. This can be a handy option for some of our wildlife tours.
Hikers can buy a ‘down ticket’ from the Shop at the Top, located within the top station. This allows you to descend the mountain on the train and avoid the walk!
Winter access
During winter conditions, this arrangement is relaxed somewhat, to permit skiers to depart the train and ski. Foot passengers are also allowed to walk out into the upper Ptarmigan bowl beginners area using a ‘ski spectator ticket‘. However, a condition of ticket sale is that passengers must remain within the ski patrolled area. Inevitably, a proportion of skiers will go off-piste (ie: leave the ski area), having ridden the train up. They do this at their own risk. Passengers who board the train in winter obviously equipped for mountaineering/winter hill walking will be challenged and probably refused entry. Those who walk up to the top station can request entry to the building and may be able to buy a down ticket. This is managed through a sign-in system by station staff. This can occassionally be a handy option on our winter skills courses.
Lift-assisted ski touring at Cairn Gorm
We sometimes use the train on our ski touring courses to enable more practice ‘within bounds’ (‘sidecountry’ or off-piste skiing, for example). Depending on windspeeds and snow cover, ski-tourers can also gain height using a single day ‘ski touring ticket’. This gives access to a combination of 2 specified surface lifts (usually the Car Park T bar and M1 Poma). Excitingly, in March 2026, a trial began allowing ski touring ticket holders one uplift on the train, to access the upper mountain and wider plateau.
Funicular closure
Closure of the mountain railway does not affect hillwalkers and mountaineers. However, interruption to the normal running of the train can and does have a significant impact on most visiting skiers and snowboarders.
Impact of strong winds
Even when running perfectly, the train service will sometimes be stopped due to excessive windspeeds. This is usually expected and communicated widely. In summer, this means there will be no access to the top station at all. In winter, this means that the only access to the upper mountain for skiers/snowboarders will be via the West Wall poma and the M1 poma. If lower lifts aren’t running, either of these may require a significant walk in mountain terrain to reach them. Both of these are fast, steep single-person drag lifts. Anyone falling off them will find themselves on steep (and possibly unpisted) red runs.
Engineering works
Cracks were discovered in some of the concrete supports some years ago, leading to an extended closure of the train. A major engineering project began, funded partly through the Scottish Government, to reinforce the tracks. This was completed in 2022/23 and the train ran again during that winter, after several years of closure. Unfortunately, another fault was discovered in the track in late 2023, meaning the train was put back out of action again. At time of writing, it is thankfully fully operational again.
Train passengers can access a great outdoor viewing terrace, but are not permitted to walk out onto the mountain outside the ski season.
Yes, hikers who have walked up the mountain can buy a down ticket inside the top station. This allows one train journey down the mountain.