The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways have crowned a successful year with multiple recognition in both regional and national awards ceremonies.

Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, presented the 2009 National Railway Heritage Awards on Wednesday 2nd December at a ceremony in London.

He offered the Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year Award to the Welsh Highland Railway in recognition of the successful relaying of the line through to Porthmadog. The Welsh Highland Railway was also praised for the reinstallation of passenger services through the Aberglaslyn Pass to Hafod y Llyn.

The Network Rail Partnership Award was made to the Ffestiniog Railway for the restoration and expansion of the Old Engine Shed at Boston Lodge Works.

Finally, the Ian Allan Publishing Award, given to the best overall entry in this year’s competition, went to the Welsh Highland Construction Ltd for the multi-million pound scheme to restore and reopen the long-closed Welsh Highland Railway.

Ffestiniog Railway Company General Manager, Paul Lewin, said: “This is a very proud day for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and for North Wales. The awards reflect the tremendous effort by volunteers and staff to rebuild the Welsh Highland Railway whilst simultaneously working to conserve the historic Ffestiniog Railway for future generations.

“The Welsh Highland Railway doubled its income as a result of the opening to Beddgelert and through the Aberglaslyn pass in 2009.

“This has resulted in significant benefits for the local economy against a weak economic background in the country as a whole. We are delighted to have received these awards.

“The old engine shed was built to house the first narrow-gauge steam engines in the world and was quietly crumbling away. The commitment of the team of volunteers and staff along with financial support from CADW (the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government), the Ffestiniog Railway Trust, Legacies and the Ffestiniog Railway Society have led to an incredible transformation. The building is very close to the original condition and fit for the next hundred years. It is used to house historic replica carriages dating from the 1870s.”

This news came in the same week that the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways won the Traveline Cymru Tourism Award in the Daily Post Achievement Wales Business Awards for 2009.

This award was presented in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the expansion of the local tourist industry, especially for innovative marketing of the railways and the wider area.

For information regarding the National Railway Heritage Awards:
www.nrha.org.uk/

For information regarding the Daily Post Achievement Wales Business Awards for 2009:
www.dailypost.co.uk/business-news/achievement_wales/

Further details on the rebuilding of Boston Lodge Old Engine Shed can be found here.

Further details on the rebuilding of the Welsh Highland Railway can be found here.

All requests for further information should be directed to:
Paul Lewin, General Manager Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
T: 01766 516000
E: paul.lewin@festrail.co.uk

Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9NF