Consumer champion Which? has named Ffestiniog Railway as Europe’s best scenic railway, with Talyllyn and Welsh Highland Railway also in the top 10.

Ffestiniog Railway

The UK-based consumer advice magazine asked rail passengers to rate their favourite journey in a recent survey and Ffestiniog Railway, which runs from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales, came out top, scoring 91%.

In the survey, 1,400 rail passengers were asked to rate their favourite rail journeys, scoring each for scenery, comfort, facilities, cleanliness, food and drink, service and value. Talyllyn Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Caernarfon shared sixth place with 86%.

Val Hawkins, Chief Executive of Mid Wales Tourism, said: "To not only have Ffestiniog Railway recognised as the most scenic rail journey in Europe but also two other railways in the top 10 is fantastic news for the region. It really puts Southern Snowdonia and Wales on the international map. More visitors are discovering that this beautiful part of Wales has so much to offer as a destination its own right.”

Ffestiniog Railway

Stretching 13.5 miles (21.7 km) between the harbour at Porthmadog and the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Ffestiniog Railway in Snowdonia is the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway.

Ffestiniog Railway came out top over iconic European railways such as Bergen Railway in Norway, the Bernina Express which runs through the Alps from Switzerland to Italy, and the Glacier Express which is also in Switzerland.

Ffestiniog Railway

Clare Britton, Commercial Manager, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, added: “We are thrilled to have both railways in the Which? top ten against stiff competition. We already know that Snowdonia is a beautiful place, but it now seems Which? readers have arrived at the same conclusion. I think it’s great for Ffestiniog Railway to come out on top because it’s iconic and one of the oldest preserved lines.”

Talyllyn Railway is a narrow-gauge railway which opened for goods traffic in 1865 and for passenger services soon after. Trains have run every year since between Tywyn on the Cambrian Coast in Southern Snowdonia and Nant Gwernol, seven miles inland.

Talyllyn Railway © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

In 1951, operation of the line was taken over by Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and became the world’s first preserved railway. The line is operated primarily by volunteers, with a small paid staff.

Welsh Highland Railway runs from beneath the castle walls in Caernarfon to the foot of Snowdon before dropping again to sea level at the harbour in Porthmadog. The original railway closed in 1936 and has now been completely rebuilt by volunteers at a cost of £28 million.

Welsh Highland Railway

With the 25-mile Welsh Highland Railway line now complete, together with a new £1.25 million two-platform layout at Harbour Station, Porthmadog, it is possible to connect with the Ffestiniog Railway and experience 40 unbroken miles of spectacular narrow-gauge steam.

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, said: “It’s fantastic that Ffestiniog Railway has come out on top in the Which? poll. It truly is one of the most incredible railway journeys in the world, and a huge favourite with our clients. To have three Welsh heritage railways in the top ten is quite an achievement for one small corner of Europe, but it highlights just how scenic Snowdonia really is, and a must-see on a tour of Britain.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a ride on the Ffestiniog Railway, Talyllyn Railway or the Welsh Highland Railway on a tailor-made tour of Wales, please do contact our friendly team today. Or perhaps you would like to experience a specialist tour dedicated to the heritage railways of the UK and Ireland – either way, we can help!