PROJECT RHEILFFORDD ERYRI

• March 2001 - The rock stabilisation and tunnel works at Aberglaslyn were completed. Inspection and approval awaited resumption of Snowdonia National Park Authority planning meetings, delayed during the Foot & Mouth Disease crisis.
• The first Phase 3 track was laid at Waunfawr.

• April 4th 2001 - The plans to rebuild the railway through the Snowdonia National Park were approved by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, "unlocking" the powers which had awaited approval of the works at Aberglaslyn. See this BBC Wales news report. At the same meeting, the SNPA granted planning permission for railway structures etc between between the park boundary at Betws Garmon and Rhyd Ddu.
• April 4th 2001 - Owing to Foot & Mouth Disease precautions, work in progress on Phase 3 was temporarily suspended beyond Betws Garmon.
• Late April 2001 - The first consignment of brand new rail for Phase 3 was delivered.

• June 2001 - Tracklaying onwards from Waunfawr reached the site of the former Betws Garmon Station.

• September 18th 2001 - Mountaineer was returned to the Ffestiniog Railway.
• September 21st 2001 - HMRI gave formal confirmation that the whole railway from Dinas to Waunfawr is approved under the Approval of Plant and Equipment Regulations, marking the formal conclusion of Phase 2 works. Also, the first part of Waunfawr footbridge came into use.
• September 22nd-23rd 2001 - Visiting locos Prince, Taliesin and Lilla appeared at the WHR (Caernarfon) Vintage Weekend.

• October 27-8th 2001 - the first track was laid on the section running northwards from Rhyd Ddu, representing the WHR Project's first tracklaying within the Snowdonia National Park.

• November 11th 2001 - WHR (Caernarfon) received the prestigious Silver Unicorn Award of the British Guild of Travel Writers, as British Tourism Project of the Year, at a black tie dinner at London's Savoy Hotel. From an original field of about 20 entries, the WHR(C) was finally up against Rheged in Cumbria and the Scottish Seabird Centre. The award goes to the best UK tourism project that fulfils various criteria including social & economic benefits to the area, benefits to the community, environmentally sound, etc. for a project that has opened within the last two years. The railway is already proving of use to the local population as an alternative to the current public transport, especially with the Resident Railcards offering a 75% discount on normal fares; and the extra tourists coming to the area have boosted the local economy, especially on event weekends. A delighted Ken Allen, Managing Director of the Ffestiniog Railway which owns and operates the WHR(C) said "This award is a tribute to all who have worked so hard to get the railway open, the construction team, the operators and the volunteers. It is a good way to end the daily train service and to look forward to winter running and maintenance". (from FR press release, 14.11.01)

• December 15-16th 2001 - WHR (Caernarfon) operated its first ever Santa Trains.
  
  

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