Ffestiniog Round Robin

[Amateurish]

My son has asked if we can do the Ffestiniog Round Robin this Sunday. Is it actually possible to do this trip on a Sunday timetable? Are we at risk of Sunday cancellations?

Either direction is fine and we would probably start from Birmingham or, if necessary, Shrewsbury.

Cheers

 

[30907]

No. There are so few trains on the Festiniog that you have to start with their timetable, which offers one departure from Blaenau. It looks possible on the 0835 from Crewe or further West but that's all.

 

[anothertyke]

It's feasible on Saturday interchanging at Minfford.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If the FfR itself isn't critical, you can take the hourly T22 bus from Blaenau-Porthmadog or vice versa. It's still a great trip even without the FfR itself.

Edit: 2 hourly on Sundays.

 

[Amateurish]

It's feasible on Saturday interchanging at Minfford.

Thanks, in which direction would we need to go?

 

[Amateurish]

If the FfR itself isn't critical, you can take the hourly T22 bus from Blaenau-Porthmadog or vice versa. It's still a great trip even without the FfR itself.

Edit: 2 hourly on Sundays.

Thanks, we definitely want to include the Ffr

 

[anothertyke]

Thanks, in which direction would we need to go?

You would need to go clockwise Bham New St 1022 Minfford 1448/1535 BF 1630/1735 Llan Jct 1835/1853 Chester 1950/2024 Shrew 2119/2130 New St 2220

Obviously you could cut two hours off that and reduce risk a bit starting at Shrewsbury. You would have daylight over the most scenic sections apart from the Telford viaduct near Ruabon.

Anti clockwise you could possibly leave New st on the 0722 to Holyhead but then you are dependent on a 12 min connection at Llan Jct. Risky!!!

 

[30907]

You would need to go clockwise Bham New St 1022 Minfford 1448/1535 BF 1630/1735 Llan Jct 1835/1853 Chester 1950/2024 Shrew 2119/2130 New St 2220

Obviously you could cut two hours off that and reduce risk a bit starting at Shrewsbury. You would have daylight over the most scenic sections apart from the Telford viaduct near Ruabon.

Anti clockwise you could possibly leave New st on the 0722 to Holyhead but then you are dependent on a 12 min connection at Llan Jct. Risky!!!

I would always opt for the up-gradient run on the Ffestiniog, and you have the bonus of the Victorian Train at 1500 Minffordd-Tan-y-bwlch.

You could also make the earlier 0822 and go through to Porthmadog, have lunch and/or a drink, and catch the FR at Harbour.

 

[Amateurish]

Thank you

 

[Russel]

Hi all,

Rather than start a new thread, I'll ask here...

Does the Ffestiniog Round Robin allow for break of journey?

Would I be able to break up the return from Porthmadog back to Birmingham at Barmouth and have an hour or two there?

 

[anothertyke]

Hi all,

Rather than start a new thread, I'll ask here...

Does the Ffestiniog Round Robin allow for break of journey?

Would I be able to break up the return from Porthmadog back to Birmingham at Barmouth and have an hour or two there?

I think the answer is yes.

But are you taking the big risk with that 5 min connection at Llan Jct? I have looked at that many times and thought on balance no. Or perhaps you are an early riser!

 

[Russel]

I think the answer is yes.

But are you taking the big risk with that 5 min connection at Llan Jct? I have looked at that many times and thought on balance no. Or perhaps you are an early riser!

Was looking at an hour or so at Llandudno Jn, walk over to Conwy and back and then nip into Asda to grab a sandwich.