Take a look through our Frequently Asked Questions to see if we can help you with your question.
If you need to talk to us, call our Booking Office; 01766 516024
Our Booking Office will be open 09:00 – 16:00 on weekdays, and daily from Saturday, 25th March onwards.
Booking Tickets
WHAT DAYS ARE YOU OPEN?
Our 2024 services will run all the way through until early November. Full details on our services are available on our ‘Train Services’ page.
HOW DOES THE PRICING SYSTEM WORK?
Ticket prices will vary depending on your choice of experience.
Please see our ‘Train Services’ page for full details.
WILL DOGS BE ALLOWED ON BOARD?
Yes. Tickets for dogs will be priced between £3 or £4, depending on the service.
Dogs are welcome to travel in most standard class accommodation with just a few exceptions which are clearly marked. Dogs will not be allowed in the carpeted compartments of our heritage carriages. Dogs will not be allowed in 1st / Gold Class Carriages, with the exception of assistant/support dogs.
Please note: Our trains are narrow gauge so our carriages are smaller than normal ones. In our modern corridor style carriages, we have tried to allow space by counting the dog as a ‘passenger’, however, they are not permitted to sit on the table and should only be on a seat if the seat has a covering that you have provided. Most dogs travel on the floor under the table.
You should be aware that during the course of the journey, the train crew will pass through on a number of occasions, checking tickets and pushing through a refreshment trolley. Members of the public also walk through to access the toilet. We ask that you take extra care when this happens so your dog is not scared or surprised in such a way that it might bite someone walking along the train.
Our Woodland Wanderer service offers an alternative for those who wish to have more space for their dog as this train is sold by separate compartment meaning the dog travels with their family group only.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A LARGE FAMILY GROUP?
If your party is more than 6 people, call us in the booking office. 01766 516024.
WHAT ABOUT VISITORS WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS OR RESTRICTED MOBILITY?
We ask that visitors who are travelling in a wheelchair or those with restricted mobility call the Booking Office to book their tickets so we can make sure there is ease of accessibility and sufficient seating space ready prior to your arrival.
Disabled passengers and their carers will receive a 10% discount. Please call the Booking Office for further details.
CAN I BOOK GOLD/1ST CLASS SEATING?
Yes. ‘Go Gold’ packages are available on our ‘Mountain Spirit’, ‘The Quarryman’, ‘Gelert Explorer’, ‘The Aberglaslyn’, ‘Snowdonia Star’ and ‘The Harbourmaster’.
Please see our ‘Gold Services’ page for full information on our ‘Go Gold’ experiences.
CAN I MAKE A SINGLE JOURNEY ON THESE SERVICES?
Yes. One Way tickets (Standard Class only) can be bought on the day.
CAN I HOP ON & OFF SERVICES / TRAVEL BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE STATIONS?
Yes. Passengers will be able to hop on & off services, subject to availability. All services, with the exception of the Woodland Wanderer, will have some space allocated for passengers to travel between intermediate stations. When the train arrives speak to the guard of the train who will help you and show you to the correct seats.
If your intended journey starts from one of our terminal stations please contact the booking office at that station before joining the train. You can also contact us by telephone or web chat on our web site.
Please note, it is the responsibility of the passenger to make sure there is a return journey available when travelling to/from/between intermediate stations.
CAN I RETURN ON A LATER TRAIN?
Return tickets are for a specific service only. Passengers cannot return on a later train if they have booked a return ticket, the only way of returning on a later train is to book two separate single journey tickets, out and back, subject to the timetable and availability.
I WISH TO MAKE A GROUP BOOKING FOR A COACH PARTY
Group bookings are available. We are happy to discuss your requirements and fit your group in wherever possible. Please call our Booking Office or email us (see our Contact page) for further information.
DO I NEED TO PRE-BOOK TICKETS OR CAN I BOOK TICKETS AT BOOKING OFFICE?
Tickets may be purchased on the day, subject to demand, however we recommend pre-booking your tickets in advance to secure your seats.
SHOULD I PRINT OUT MY TICKET?
Both email confirmation of your tickets on your phone or a physical print out of your confirmation will be acceptable, so you can but do but it is not a requirement. You will need to show your booking reference on arrival at the check in desk where you will be given a printed receipt to take to the train.
DO SOCIETY MEMBERS NEED TO PRE-BOOK?
Ffestiniog Railway Society and Welsh Highland Railway Society members can pre-book online and use their membership number plus prefix to obtain discounted travel or call the Booking Office to pre-book their tickets.
However, Members can also purchase tickets on the day of travel, subject to availability.
WHAT ABOUT PARTNER ORGANISATIONS?
Holders of Rail Staff Travel Privilege cards, HRA InterRail Passes, Great Little Trains of Wales Discount card holders, Transport for Wales flexipass holders and Talyllyn Railway Society members should contact the Booking Office to check on discount availability and to make bookings.
CAN I USE MY GIFT CARD TO BOOK TICKETS?
Yes. Gift card holders will be able to use their card for booking online or over the phone.
CAN CHILDREN TRAVEL ALONE?
Children should not travel on their own on a Ffestiniog or Welsh Highland Railway service until they are deemed mature enough to understand the risks involved with rail travel. We are unable to provide a chaperone service and therefore the Guard may refuse travel to any unaccompanied child under the age of 16 at their discretion.
DO CHILDREN TRAVEL FREE?
Children between the ages of 3 – 15 will require a ticket (standard return ticket prices vary between £3 – £4 per child based on the service of choice). Infants under 3 can travel for free and do not need a ticket, however please make sure you reserve a big enough table/bay to give you enough space on the train. Passengers aged 16 or older will require an adult ticket.
Catering
WILL SPOONER’S CAFÉ BE OPEN?
Spooner’s is currently operating under the following opening hours:
CAFÉ: Open Daily…
Counter service from 09:00-16:00 – serving drinks, sandwiches, cakes etc.
Hot food from the kitchen available every day:
Breakfast served 09:00-12:00
Light Bites served 12:00-16:00
Main Menu served 12:00-20:00
BAR:
Open from 12:00 every day
Sunday to Thursday – 12:00-22:00
Friday and Saturday – 12:00-23:00
Last orders – 30 minutes before closing.
Full opening time details are available on the Spooner’s website.
WILL TEAROOMS AT TAN-Y-BWLCH BE OPEN?
The Tea Room is now closed for the winter and will re-open in the spring.
Please visit our Facebook page for the latest information.
WILL CAERNARFON STATION CAFÉ DE WINTON BE OPEN?
Caffi De Winton at Caernarfon Station is open as follows:
Saturday 09:00-14:00
Sunday 10:00-14:00
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 09:00-14:00
Wednesday 09:00-14:00
Thursday 09:00-14:00
Friday CLOSED
The station will however be open as normal on the three Fridays prior to Santa Trains.
CAN I BRING MY OWN FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY?
Yes, you can bring your own food for the journey.
ARE DOGS ALLOWED IN YOUR CATERING OUTLETS?
With the exception of Guide Dogs, there are some restrictions with regards to Dogs at our Catering Outlets. There are dog-friendly outdoor areas at Spooner’s Café & Bar, dog-friendly undercover outdoor areas at Tearooms at Tan y Bwlch Station, and a dog-friendly indoor event space area at Caernarfon station.
Other Facilities
WHERE CAN I PARK AT PORTHMADOG STATION?
Car parking for our visitors is available in the fenced area at the end of the nearby Llyn Bach car park, a short walk away from Porthmadog Harbour Station. Parking is free for Railway passengers in this section only. The remainder of this car park is council run and the appropriate fee should be paid. Follow the directions on your booking confirmation. Disabled badge holders may park at the station and should make themselves known to a station host on arrival.
WHERE CAN I PARK AT CAERNARFON STATION?
Free parking is available on the road with a blue badge or in a Gwynedd Council car park. The Slate Quay car park has spaces but is privately run and blue badge holders still need to pay and display.
Please note there are no parking facilities at the station.
ARE THERE TOILET FACILITIES AT THE STATIONS?
Yes. There are toilet facilities at Porthmadog Harbour Station, Tan-y-Bwlch Station, Blaenau Ffestiniog Station, Beddgelert Station and Caernarfon Station, these are open when the station buildings are open to public.
ARE THERE TOILET FACILITIES ON BOARD THE TRAIN?
Our ‘Woodland Wanderer’ service does NOT have on-board toilet facilities; however, toilet facilities are available during the layover at Tan-y-Bwlch Station.
Our ‘Mountain Spirit’, ‘The Quarryman’ ‘Gelert Explorer’, ‘The Aberglaslyn’, ‘Snowdonia Star and ‘The Harbourmaster’ services have small on-board toilet facilities, however we recommend you use the station toilets wherever possible.
WILL THERE BE STORAGE AVAILABILITY FOR A PRAM?
Yes. However, please note there is limited space for storing large prams in the Guard’s carriages on our trains but folding pushchairs may be stored under or near to your seat.
NOTE: Please make sure they do not obstruct the walkway through the carriage.
WILL PORTHMADOG HARBOUR STATION SHOP BE OPEN?
Our Porthmadog Harbour Station Shop is currently open between 09:00 – 17:00 Daily
WILL THE CAERNARFON STATION SHOP BE OPEN?
Our Caernarfon Station shop will be open from 09:00 – 17:00.
General
WHICH LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE OPERATING ON THE SERVICES?
We are unable to specify which loco will be on a particular train due to the fluid nature of the rostering. We do reserve the right to change motive power at short notice which may very occasionally be a diesel if there is nothing else that is available.
CAN YOU GUARANTEE MY TRAIN WILL BE STEAM HAULED?
No. Whilst we will endeavour to run all our services steam hauled, there is currently concern over the availability of suitable coal and therefore we would rather run with a diesel engine than not at all.
In the event of a breakdown, we may also need to use a diesel engine.