The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway has grown from 13 to nearly 40 miles of 2ft gauge railway, making it by far the longest heritage railway in Britain, which opens up new challenges and opportunities.

The linking of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways also makes the enterprise one of the largest employers in the area, creating several hundred jobs and generating some £25m annually for the economy of Gwynedd.

The combined railways exceed £5m in turnover and patronage is growing as people realise the delights of the experience on offer through the glorious countryside with its panoramas and mountain vistas.

But we have rebuilt a very basic Welsh Highland Railway and to make the two railways into a world attraction, we must finish the WHR and the FR to provide the level of service and amenity that visitors expect in the 21st century.

This is what is needed to deliver us the comfort of a sustainable railway, generating the returns needed for us to hand the enterprise on to future generations. The railway's chairman, John Prideaux, has written a far-seeing document laying down the guidelines that need to be followed to achieve this aim.

Achieving these aims is vital, and the Phase 5 Appeal is our way of delivering our goal by finishing what we started.

If you would like to subscribe to this amazing and successful project, then go to The Leaflet tab of the website. A generous sponsor will add a further £1 for every £10 given and then FR Trust may claim £2.50 Gift Aid on the £10! We look to double the resultant £13.50, by obtaining grants. For your £10, we shall hope to achieve £27 worth of work.