Fears over Scottish tunnel after disaster

Scottish pressure groups are demanding a public inquiry into the safety of Scotland's first funicular railway after the Kitzsteinhorn disaster in Austria on Saturday, which killed at least 156 people.

Scottish pressure groups are demanding a public inquiry into the safety of Scotland's first funicular railway after the Kitzsteinhorn disaster in Austria on Saturday, which killed at least 156 people.

Bill Wright, of the Cairngorms Campaign, a conservation group, said: "Now is the opportunity for the Scottish Executive to take stock of the Cairngorm funicular railway. We want [it] suspended on safety grounds and on cost."

Dave Morris, director of the Ramblers' Association of Scotland, said: "Clearly, there must be questions about the dangers of a fire... I am calling upon the Scottish Executive to re-examine the issue and hold a public inquiry from three perspectives - safety, the environment and economic viability."

The 1.25 mile-long, £15m funicular is being built by an Austrian company, Doppelmayr. It includes an 820-foot tunnel, similar to that at Kitzsteinhorn.

David Frew, of The Cairngorm Chairlift Company, which will run it, said that it was too early to say what the implications of the Austrian disaster would be.