Anger over new signage for ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’
Nation.Cymru Staff
A new sign for Snowdon Mountain Railway at Llanberis Station has sparked criticism after appearing without any Welsh language branding.
The railway took to its Facebook page on the morning of 4 June 2026 to share now-deleted images captioned “All finished!” of the new sign, which reads ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’, on the station’s green and yellow façade.
However, many commenters were quick to note the company had not included the Welsh-language translation of the company name, ‘Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa’, which appears across their social media.
“It’s a bit tone deaf given there is no Welsh at all. That’s very disappointing indeed,” a commenter wrote. “We’re fighting for our language and this chips away at our efforts. Would it have been too difficult to write Yr Wyddfa anywhere on that sign? Mae’n bwysig amddiffyn ein iaith a’r hanes (it’s important to protect our language and history).”
Another added: “I wouldn’t say finished due to the fact that it’s rather rude not to have it in Welsh.”
The Eryri National Park Authority, which does not manage the railway, announced in 2022 that it would begin to phase out the use of English names Snowdonia and Snowdon, instead using Eryri and Yr Wyddfa.
In November 2024 the authority then announced that the change would be made permanent, with ‘Snowdonia’ removed from their logo, due to wide support.
Businesses and writers have come under fire for continuing to use the park and mountain’s English names, including Ferrero for their ‘Snowdonia’ limited edition Nutella jars, while others have rebranded, including Eryri Snowdonia 360 (formerly Snowdonia 360), to embrace the mountain’s Welsh name.
The SMR operates several steam and diesel locomotives from Llanberis station which carry passengers 4.7 miles to the summit of Yr Wyddfa.
The company’s first iteration, Snowdon Mountain Tramroad and Hotels Company Ltd, was formed in 1894. The railway was completed in February 1896, and is now the “only public rack and pinion railway in the United Kingdom”, according to SMR.
The company rebranded to the Snowdon Mountain Railway in 1924 after the sale of the Royal Victoria Hotel, and also own and manage Hafod Eryri, the building at Yr Wyddfa’s summit completed in 2009 to replace the one designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’ and finished in 1935.
More recently, SMR was acquired by Heritage Great Britain PLC, “an attractions company that operates numerous sites in the UK”, formed in 1999 and based in Liverpool. Heritage Great Britain also manage Land’s End and John O’Groats.
Despite the criticism, others were impressed with the new signage, writing “Lovely job that” and “Got to love all the Welsh crying over nothing”.
Snowdon Mountain Railway were contacted for comment.
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Yet another example of a, presumably, English firm (or a firm with an English colonialist mentality) disregarding and belittling our indigenous language – Welsh. It’s contemptable and disgusting. Don’t be in the least bit surprised if the sign is vandalised – the company will have brought it upon itself and fully deserves such treatment.
Siomedig- especially as SMR has benefited directly from Taxpayers funds with the Hafod building . What this row really exposes is not just disagreement over signage, but the limitations of Wales’ current Welsh language framework. At present, the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and associated standards place clear duties on the public sector, but leave a large portion of the economy – including major visitor attractions, transport operators, hospitality and retail – governed largely by voluntary codes, planning expectations, or piecemeal conditions rather than consistent statutory obligations. That creates exactly the kind of inconsistency we are seeing here: Welsh is… Read more »
Spot on!
It took a war with France to get tourists here in the first place, lets let the graffiti artists provide their own alliteration, perhaps they were lost in translation…back to the drawing board, surprising after the recent fuss over climber’s names for the various pitches and routes one would think someone would THINK!
Yet another example of linguistic cleansing. It quietly goes on in the background everywhere in Wales and is how our language and culture is getting lost
No, it’s not…what is missing is Hanes Cymru, for that we can blame the Labour years of unionism, the fact is schools lack the tools (teachers and books) to teach it…
Anti-Welsh ignorance in the heart of Welsh-speaking Wales. It’s time Cyngor Gwynedd were given by-laws to ensure that full public bilingualism is the norm in the county.
Poor show
It will take time for these non-original names to fizzle out. If you see one just (politely) remind the company using it that the Snowdon / Snowdonia name is quite recent compared to the original names, and ask them to reconsider using yr Wyddfa / Eryri in future.
I also hope that all Anglicised place names will eventually disappear and that the likes of Treorchy and Caerphilly will eventually go the same way as Aberystwith and Llanelly (which went out of date so long ago I had to override the autocorrect on my phone to type them!)
Looks like the FB post has been pulled down. Let’s hope they do the same with the sign.
Looks like an act of malevolence.
The Ffestiniog Railway gets it right with its dual-language signage (although the website is not quite so good). Interesting though to know that the legal Company behind it only has one “F” as it was first registered in 1832!
Yes, as usual, the English assume they are right at all times and everyone else are idiots. In this instance they thought we had mis-spelt Ffestiniog and did it their way with one ‘f’ …… without asking!!
From many a tourists point of view this is a stupid move. Many, admittedly not all, like seeing the Welsh Language as it confirms to them that they are somewhere different and that is part of the “holiday” experience. They may not want to learn the language but it adds an element of mystery. As for the companies actions it may be deliberate on many levels, one may be to just cause a argument, culture war style, just to get free publicity. Alternatively the company directors and management may just be thick and cannot cope having to consider another language… Read more »
Well at least Mr Farage will be happy as there is no sign of the “foreign language” on display. Bravo chaps!
Oops! Howdid this happen?
Deliberately.
Are they a far right organisation?
I notice that they’re FB page is called Snowdon Mountain Railway / Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa – have they recently updated this
Again, another example of English ignorance and an utter lack of respect for our language. Would they get away with this in other countries ? I don’t think so. Come on Gwynedd Council, get a back bone and protect our language. Think back to the times that so many signs were vandalised in the past. These people are asking for trouble.