A 12-month snagging period and inspection programme has been ongoing since the funicular began carrying passengers again in January, following a two-year programme of works to strengthen the 1.7km viaduct that supports the track.

Last week, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said inspectors identified that some of the ‘scarf joint assemblies’ that link the beams at the top of the piers did not meet the required tension.

At a board meeting on Friday, Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL) agreed with the HIE decision to temporarily withdraw the funicular on the grounds of public safety.

Contractors are due to arrive on site within days to begin work using specialist tensioning equipment.

The closure comes two weeks after HIE settled a court action against constructors and designers over structural problems. The economic development agency had been pursuing a £14.5m claim against Galliford Try.

Susan Smith, CEO of CMSL, said: “We realise this will disappoint our customers but health and safety is always our number one priority and cannot be compromised.”

An HIE spokesperson said: “Everything will be done to return the railway to service as quickly as possible and we will issue updates as soon as the picture becomes clearer.”