B&FRHT

4.1 Project timeline and delivery

The majority of the initial funds will be utilised for the furtherance of the project and enabling the trust to achieve its initial 12 month objectives.

• A safety management system
• Public liability insurance
• Qualified personnel
• Dual Signatory Bank Account Register for Gift Aid
• Register with HRA
• Establish contacts with Stakeholders
• Outline plan for Maentwrog Road
• Outline plan for full length of line
• Establish Fundraising team
• Feasibility study of the project
• Trust Rule Book
• Safety Management System
• Environmental Policy/Impact Statement
• Other relevant Trust Paperwork
• Gift Aid registration

These objectives are set with the goal of being able to commence negotiations with the relevant bodies and because the Office of Rail and Road require that the trust when operational has a management board made up of people with industry experience.

The trust will cautiously build its activity levels from a gentle start in 2019/2020, when we will seek to open negotiations with the owners of the line with a view to obtaining permission to access the line in 2020/2021 in order to survey the line and carry out basic clearance operations in order to facilitate the assessment of the line. As part of its efforts to engage with the local community the Trust will be looking at ways that it can support the local community in the best interests of both the community and the Trust. This will include discussing with the local community what they want from the return of the railway between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Lake Halt.

4.2 Wider plans

While our initial efforts are designed towards ensuring the paperwork and regulatory requirements are met we have other long term general plans which will be finalised as and when appropriate:

• Educating members of the trust and members of the public about the history of the line including use of interpretation boards along the route.
• Preservation of the history of the line and being able to present it in a variety of formats in order to engage with as wide a variety of individuals and groups as possible.
• Creation of a Permanent Way vehicle fleet that can be used to restore the line to operational use.
• Creation of a Permanent Way team with the required level of competence and expertise to bring the mothballed infrastructure up to current standards for operation of a regular heritage railway system.
• Creation of plans for the support of the local community in order to maximise the benefit of the railway to the area including supporting creation of other tourism attractions in the area.
• Acquisition of historical objects related to the Bala & Ffestiniog Railway with a view to creating a Heritage Museum
• Creation of architectural drawings for planning permission and organizational purposes of line formations, stations and any other buildings necessary for the safe operation of the line.
• Exploring the potential opportunities for a commuter service between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Lake Halt to serve the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone opening employment opportunities for individuals in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Alternative commuter services include having heritage trains connect with the main Conwy Valley Line trains at Blaenau Ffestiniog in order to create travel opportunities to Llandudno Junction and
beyond.