Blaenau Ffestiniog Help

[Ibex]

Hi all,

My friend and I have planned a very inpromptu trip to Porthmadog tomorrow. If anyone could provide some advice here I'd be much obliged. Our current itinerary is:

09:05 Watford Junction to Llandudno Junction arr 12:01
12:28 Llandudno Junction to Llandudno arr 12:39
13:22 Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog arr 14:36
15:10 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog arr 16:20


Now this is a perfect connection at Blaenau for the 15:10 departure.
If we wanted to spend more time in Llandudno we could amend our itinerary to:

09:05 Watford Junction to Llandudno Junction arr 12:01
12:28 Llandudno Junction to Llandudno arr 12:39
16:20 Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog arr 17:35
17:40 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog arr 18:50

This would suit us better time wise but it's a 5 minute changeover at Blaenau. What would happen in the event that the train from Llandudno is late? If it was 5 - 10 minutes late would the Portmadog train be held? Would alternative transport be provided as the 'connecting train' is late?

I realise 5 minutes is very tight and probably not worth the risk but the fact the Ffestiniog railway's website says "Connections with the Conwy Valley Line are available at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and arrival/departure times for these services are shown on the timetable panels above." suggests to me that it's a perfectly acceptable connection?

Thanks for any help.

 

[connor7777]

All you have to do is cross over a footbridge, now that doesnt take 5 mins does it?

 

[sprinterguy]

All you have to do is cross over a footbridge, now that doesnt take 5 mins does it?

Yes but a five minute connection time doesn't leave much leeway if the Conwy Valley service is late arriving at Blaenau.

Afraid I don't know what the accepted practice is with the Ffestiniog Railway though.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I'd say 5 mins is too tight. There is every chance the train may be 5 mins late and your connection would not be held. You'd be better off getting the earlier one as the frequency of trains on the is poor. By the look of your timings I'm guessing you're not coming back the same day!!

 

[merlodlliw]

heres your train.

16:20 Llandudno On time
Train last reported
16:24 Deganwy On time
16:33 Llandudno Junction On time
16:36 Glan Conwy On time
16:42 Tal-y-Cafn On time
16:47 Dolgarrog On time
16:53 North Llanrwst On time
16:55 Llanrwst On time
17:01 Betws-y-Coed On time
17:09 Pont-y-Pant On time
17:12 Dolwyddelan On time
17:16 Roman Bridge On time
17:35 Blaenau Ffestiniog On time

The Festiniog may wait five minutes, & its only just over an hour on the ATW, so your choice, take a mobile with FR numbers on it,just in case the ATW(only train on the line ) as a problem,it is rare to have delays on this line.
If the FR know there are fares on the way,as a Charity they need them.

 

[Ibex]

Thanks for your responses guys. After some more thought I think common sense is going to prevail here - I'll just catch the earlier train. Thanks again.