Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Residents of Badenoch and Strathspey are being encouraged to become regular visitors to CairnGorm Mountain when it opens fully next Spring. The operating company for the new CairnGorm Funicular, CairnGorm Mountain Ltd., is offering local residents the opportunity to receive a FREE summer season ticket, valid between 1st May and 30th November 2002, following their first visit to what will be one of Scotland's major visitor attractions.
Explained Tania Adams, Sales and Marketing Director for CairnGorm Mountain Ltd:
"We want local people to look on the CairnGorm Funicular as being part of the local community and something very special for tourism in Badenoch and Strathspey. By offering a free season ticket for the summer months to local residents, following their initial visit, we hope that they will then be encouraged to bring along their own friends and visitors to enjoy the complete CairnGorm Mountain Experience that we will be providing from next year."
"To get their season ticket, local residents will be invited to complete a form following their first trip on the Funicular and to return it along with a passport-size photograph and their initial ticket stub. Their applications will be processed in the same way as we deal with season ticket applications from skiers for the winter months. It's as simple as that and we are confident that many local people will take up our offer."
Ticket prices for the new CairnGorm Funicular are very much in line with those for other major visitor attractions across Scotland with adult tickets costing £ 7.50 and tickets for children (16 and under) costing £ 5. There will also be concession tickets at £ 6.50 for senior citizens and students along with a Family Ticket costing £ 25.00 being valid for 2 adults and 2 children with a third child travelling free.
All tickets will include not only the funicular journey but also free admission to the Mountain Experience exhibition based at the Ptarmigan, only 122 metres below the summit.
There will also be Group Discount tickets available for organised tours, subject to certain conditions, and these must be booked in advance.
CairnGorm Funicular Ticket Pricing/2 20th August, 2001
Commented Tania Adams: "Our ticket pricing strategy is in line with this season's admission charges at other major visit attractions such as Edinburgh Castle (£7.00), the former Royal Yacht "Britannia" (£7.75), Our Dynamic Earth (£ 7.95) and Edinburgh Zoo (£7.00) and to day ticket charges for the gondolas at Nevis Range (£ 6.90). Our fares are also much cheaper than the Snowdonia Railway (£ 16.60) and we are offering a unique mountain experience at a very competitive price."
At the same time as announcing its pricing policy, CairnGorm Mountain Ltd. also announced its provisional summer operating timetable with 27 trains running each day throughout the shoulder months of May and June, and from September through to the end of November. The first train will leave the Base Station at Coire Cas car park at 10.00 a.m. each day with services at 15 minute intervals until the final train leaves at 4.30 p.m.
During the peak season of July and August, there will then be extended opening times and an increased service of trains running into the evening until 9pm.
The funicular has the capacity to carry in excess of 500 passengers per hour in summer and, at full speed, will take less than 5 minutes to travel the 2 kilometres, and an elevation increase of some 500 metres, between the Base Station and the Ptarmigan.
In the evenings trains will take passengers to and from the various entertainment and functions planned for the Ptarmigan Restaurant which, at 1100 metres above sea level will not only be the highest restaurant in the UK but also will have the most spectacular panoramic views.
Said Tania Adams: "The CairnGorm Funicular and Mountain Experience will turn the area into a year-round visitor attraction and we are confident that this frequency of service will encourage summer visitors to try the experience in large numbers. People are looking for value for money and good service and we will be providing both at CairnGorm Mountain. "
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