Snowdon Mountain Railway

[antharro]

At the end of the month, I'm going to Snowdon where my girlfriend is taking part in a sponsored walk. My plan is to take the train up and meet her at the summit. However, I've done a bit of digging around, looking on review websites etc, and the reviews seem to be mixed.

Some say it's wonderful, others say it's an expensive tourist trap with poor customer service and crush loaded trains.

It would seem that I need to take the steam train not the diesel, as the steam train's carriage is a little more spacious, whereas the diesel's carriage is very cramped. One review said they were "“squashed against” thigh contact" and "Much more intimate than the Central Line in rush hour."

I understand that time at the summit is limited to 30 minutes only and you can only return on the same train you came up on, which is understandable from a planning / logistics perspective, but I would appreciate more than 30 minutes given I'll be spending two hours on the train!

There was a thread in this forum back in 2012 but unfortunately the OP didn't report back on his experience.

Can someone who has visited more recently provide any further information? Are the reports of everything being terrible accurate or is it actually worth the time and money? (I'll be going regardless and booking in advance, but it would be nice to know!)

 

[Muzer]

I went on it as part of a Railway Touring Company holiday. It is indeed very cramped, but everyone gets a seat. The views are very good, but it's explicitly not run as a heritage railway - the steam trains are basically just there, and they're in the minority - you'd probably have to explicitly plan if you wanted to go on one. Go up if you want to see the views and the railway and can't be bothered to/can't walk up, otherwise don't bother

On the other hand, the Llanberis Lake Railway just across the road from the Llanberis SMR station is a lovely short little steam-hauled narrow-gauge heritage railway. I'd recommend a short trip on that if you can find the time.

 

[gazthomas]

I concur with everything a Muzer has said. Walk up and down so you can enjoy the view!

 

[davetheguard]

"cramped"

I've never been on the railway, but I've seen a picture of the inside of the modern carriage(s) and they certainly do look cramped: no less than five seats across the width of the carriage.

Even the main line railway running on standard gauge track generally only has four seats across.........

I wonder how much you'd see if you were in that middle seat; two people between you and the window!?

 

[Greenback]

It is cramped, but I was able to see plenty despite being in the middle of the row. Whether you consider it a good experience or not will depend on you and probably also the weather on the day!

It's an expensive tourist train at the end of the day, a way for people who wouldn't otherwise be able to reach the summit to get there. Personally speaking, half an hour was more than enough time there, but there was so much mist at the top that day that there wasn't anything worth seeing anyway. We did have some lovely views on the way up, though, in the sunshine before we reached the cloud base.

 

[TEW]

It's quite pricey for what it is in my opinion, but no bad if you're only buying one ticket I suppose. I'd thoroughly recommend going up Snowdon though, either on foot or on the train. I went at Easter last year and walked up and it was a great day out. It's quite a long walk but it shouldn't be too challenging at this time of year. When I went at Easter last year it was still very frozen and icy after about 3/4 of the way up and it became quite challenging then. Considering the much better weather this year, and that it's much later on in the year it should be a much easier walk.

 

[fsmr]

It gets very busy if the weather is clear on top Use radar maps to work out the cloud base before traveling and aim to go up if there is a window at that time of day otherwise it will be like sitting in a very cramped LU train on a foggy winters day in Epping LOL However most trains are booked up by mid morning for the day if its clear. Not sure how you would guarantee a steam push to the top though as most are DMUs or Diesel push

 

[Ploughman]

Went up a few years back when Summit station was closed off.
We rode up and walked down, no problems with that even with 2 Golden Retreivers. WRONG
However the staff do try and fill all seats so you are given allocated seats.

Just remembered last time we went up Snowden we left the dogs at home unusually.

 

[Les Burrows]

My wife and I used it in 2005 as part of a bigger day out walking in the area. Yes its cheating but it served its purpose in that it saved us that the climb to the summit.

We went in May and whilst it was pretty packed we both got a seat and enjoyed the novelty of taking a train up a ruddy big mountain.

Recommend.

 

[507 001]

I am quite involved in the heritage/tourist rail industry in north wales and from what I've heard the SMR sadly falls short on most peoples expectations, especially considering the price. Bear in mind that you also have to pay extra if you want to ride on the steam train these days.

I'm biased I know, but if you just want to go for a train ride in north wales then there are far better, more comfortable and cheaper options.
The Llyn Padarn/Llanberis lake as already mentioned is one of my favourites and of course there is also the world famous Ffestiniog and Welsh highland railways. (The cost of a WHR return is roughly the same as an SMR return for a 2 hr 10 min each way journey!)

Of course, if you have your heart set on going up snowdon it is the easiest way and possibly the most interesting way.

 

[Greenback]

Of course, if you have your heart set on going up snowdon it is the easiest way and possibly the most interesting way.

Indeed. That's why the train is usually packed on clear days. People want to get to the summit and they are willing to pay premium prices to do it. The vast majority have no interest in the train, and don't care if it's steam, diesel, or electric. It could even be sail powered as far as most are concerned and they wouldn't care, just as long as they got up and back down safely!

 

[507 001]

Of course, if you have your heart set on going up snowdon it is the easiest way and possibly the most interesting way.

Indeed. That's why the train is usually packed on clear days. People want to get to the summit and they are willing to pay premium prices to do it. The vast majority have no interest in the train, and don't care if it's steam, diesel, or electric. It could even be sail powered as far as most are concerned and they wouldn't care, just as long as they got up and back down safely!

You are indeed correct. The SMR pretty much cut itself out of the "enthusiast" market years ago when it dieselised most of its trains.

My problem, and indeed from what I've heard most peoples problem with the SMR is customer service.
It can be really poor.
There seems to be a general "tough ****" attitude among the staff who are often very abrupt, bordering on rude, or in my experience completely ignore you. (Obviously not all of the staff are like this but it does often seem to be a majority).

 

[Greenback]

The ticket office staff were very pleasant the last time we went to the railway. There is a strange system for boarding, and the staff in charge of that are pretty assertive, which may come as a shock to some in this era of meaningless platitudes issued by customer service departments!