[zyztem]

Seems strangely inexpensive to me. Serious engineering, special train, 1.3 km construction on difficult terrain and only 45 mln. Euro?

In comparision, new Dublin tram line - COTS cars, 6 km line for 368 mln Euro. Or Detroit Qline, $180 mln. for 5.3 km line.

[willyt]

Trams are expensive because of all the pipes and cables under the street that have to be moved. Also a funicular train is driverless and unpowered, more like big elevator car than a train.

[roryisok]

You also have to account for dealing with traffic and pedestrian crossings, lights, planning etc. The Dublin tram was a new line across existing streets. This funicular probably doesn't cross any roads.

Also things take longer and cost more in Ireland. Case in point, near my house the local council had to dig up a road and lay some pipe to channel a stream underneath. This took two months. In the UK they put a train tunnel under a motorway in 72 hours

[jandrese]

There surprising little to a typical funicular train. Just two cars, a long cable, some track, and a big electric motor.