Welsh Highland railway secures funding to bring 50,000 additional visitors to north-west each year

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways has secured a £3.1m investment which it plans to use to attract 50,000 additional visitors to the north-west each year.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund money will be spent on plans to attract more visitors to the narrow gauge railway, which is the largest tourist attraction in the north of Wales.

The railway already attracts 200,000 visitors to the north-west annually, they said.

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this £3.1 million investment will allow the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways – a truly world-class, high quality attraction, to provide work and training opportunities for the local community and boost the economy of north-west Wales by bringing an additional 50,000 visitors to the area every year.

“As well as the many economic and employment benefits of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, this project which centres on the Boston Lodge works is a great example of how heritage can help us understand who we are and where we come from and how the communities we are part of have been shaped by the past by bringing history to life.”

‘Adapting’

The money will also help fund restoration and conservation of buildings along the line including the oldest workshop in continuous operation, Boston Lodge.

Commenting on the Boston Lodge Works project, Paul Lewin – Director and General Manager of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highlands Railway said: “We are a Welsh railway and our history is intertwined for 200 years with the local community. We want to build on those existing links so that the local community can have pride in and be involved in the heritage of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and Boston Lodge.

“Through our project, we want to capture our stories and make sure they’re shared with future generations and that we continue to play our part in the economy and success of north Wales.

“Our railway has survived by adapting and embracing technology and thanks to this investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund we will do that again now to make sure that we offer a high quality tourism experience that brings real benefit to the north Wales economy.”