A train approaches the summit
When do the trains run?
Trains do not run over the winter. The service will resume to Clogwyn on 23 March 2024, and to the summit on 15 May 2024.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway normally runs from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) between mid-May and the end of October, weather permitting. The spring service, which starts about a month earlier than this, usually sees trains running to Clogwyn (¾ of the way up, and a mile from the summit). For much of its route the railway is fairly close to the Llanberis Path, which passes under the line in a couple of places.
Trains to and from Clogwyn
When trains run only as far as Clogwyn, sometimes people want to catch the train up to there, then walk the final mile to the summit. This is possible, and you should buy a single ticket to Clogwyn. If you have a return ticket it will be for a return on the same train, something you won’t be able to do if walking to the summit (which takes the best part of an hour each way).
If you want to catch the train down from Clogwyn, you may hit lucky and find a space on a train, but this can’t be relied on, especially in good weather, so you should be prepared, if necessary, to walk all the way back down to Llanberis.
2024 fares: a single adult ticket (diesel) to/from Clogwyn is £26 (£36 return).
Trains to and from the summit
2024 fares: a single adult ticket (diesel) to/from the summit is £32 (£42 return).
When trains run to the summit, passengers only have 30 minutes at the summit, then must return on the same train if they have a return ticket. If you are walking up and have planned to meet specific train passengers at the summit, this therefore calls for fairly good timing.
Note that dogs are not permitted on the train (except assistance dogs).
Can I catch the train down, having walked up?
Yes, it is possible to buy a one-way ticket down, and if you want to do this you should inquire at the ticket office on the platform. However, you should note that trains only run to the summit in the season (mid-May to the end of October), and then only if the wind is not too strong. Even when trains are reaching the summit, there is no guarantee that there will be any spare space on the next train (it’s a single carriage), especially in good weather and peak holiday times.
The railway’s website states:
“Single tickets down the mountain cannot be pre-booked and are only available on a standby first come, first served basis from the destination station of the day (Clogwyn or Snowdon Summit).
The reason we cannot offer pre-booked tickets to travel down the mountain is because we have no guarantee that our trains will be able to reach their destination. All travel is weather permitting and if the wind speeds on the mountain exceed our operational safety level, our services will be interrupted and may even be suspended all together. This can happen throughout the year. In addition, any form of technical issue can prevent trains reaching their destination.
People who walk up the mountain must also be prepared to walk back down.”
Can I get a single ticket up, then walk down?
Yes. The railway’s website states:
“Single tickets for the Traditional Diesel Service can be purchased in advance online or at the Llanberis Ticket Office when available, exclusively for the journey up the mountain.”
Can I buy a return ticket, but walk up and use the return ticket down?
Unfortunately, no. The railway website states:
“Due to the unpredictable weather on the mountain we cannot guarantee trains will reach their destination before leaving Llanberis Station. Return tickets are only valid once you have boarded the train in Llanberis 15 minutes before your train leaves.”
(This is primarily for reasons of your safety. The railway does not want to be responsible for picking up pre-booked passengers from the summit when conditions might change and not allow their trains to reach the top, stranding the would-be passengers at the top.)
You can read more about this on the railway’s FAQs page.
Booking for the train
Advance bookings need to be made online. If there are any available tickets on the day, they will be sold from the ticket office in Llanberis from 8.30 a.m. These often sell out very quickly, so it’s always best to pre-book online to avoid disappointment.
More detail, including times, prices and booking, can be found on the Snowdon Mountain Railway website.
The Llanberis Path, from start to summit, with Clogwyn (a mile from the summit) arrowed. The railway is also marked. (Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2023)