Ffestiniog Railway to benefit from major winter infrastructure upgrade

WITH main season services having ceased, the Ffestiniog Railway will remain closed through to March while a programme of infrastructure work is implemented. This will deal with improvements postponed due to Covid-19 lockdowns during 2020 and work not possible once trains resumed running when maximisation of revenue took priority.

The programme includes track relaying, using new rail and recycled plastic sleepers, installation of a mains electrical cable and fibre optic cable to Rhiw Goch signalbox, and attention to Porthmadog Harbour station. The Porthmadog end of Tan y Bwlch station, used extensively during 2021 when many ‘Covid services’ terminated there, will receive enhancements to enable safe operation without the line token by installing a ‘wrong line’ departure signal and improved track circuiting thus making running round easier.

On the Welsh Highland Railway, Santa trains ran between Caernarfon and Rhyd Ddu and ‘Christmas Glaslyn’ services between Porthmadog and Beddgelert during December. On ceasing these operations a major effort is scheduled, weather permitting, to deal with lineside vegetation growth between Caernarfon and Dinas.