The CMER is operated as an estate expense rather than for profit, and its use is free for all estate purposes.

The principle expense item is wages, followed by fuel; general maintenance costs including amortisation of occasional capital projects make up the remainder.

The costs of the CMER are recovered as follows:

• a levy per adult per annum for unlimited use of passenger services
  
• a freight charge per mile per tonne included in the cost of all goods shipped in our out of the estate
  
• a flat fare per journey for visitors
  
• a per-head charge per week for deer-stalking parties, covering the additional use of the Bealach branch
  

Between these the annual income just covers the expenses.