Cairngorm Mountain Railway 4.68

The Cairngorm Mountain Railway, which opened in 2001, is the highest railway in the United Kingdom. The two-kilometre long funicular ascends the northern slopes of Cairn Gorm, the United Kingdom's sixth-highest mountain, serving the Cairngorm Mountain ski resort. The route and ski area are located within the Cairngorms National Park, the largest National Nature Reserve in Britain, located near Aviemore in the Highland council area of Scotland.It is owned by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise and was operated by Cairngorm Mountain Limited until July 2014 when Natural Retreats UK took over the lease.HistoryConstruction of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway started in 1999 and the railway opened on 24 December 2001 . The construction was initiated because the chairlift was too sensitive to the strong winds in the area. The track is a broad gauge of. The maximum operating speed is 10m/s during the ski season and 5m/s the rest of the year. At these speeds, the trip takes about four minutes in winter and nine minutes during the summer . The single track line has a passing loop just above the middle station. During ascent, the maximum gradient is 23° . The railway starts at the Base Station in the Coire Cas area, where there is a restaurant, shop, ticket office, hire shop, rangers' office and Disability Sport UK office. The Scottish Ski Club has a building close to the middle station.