Railtours 2023
Saphos Trains has just one outbound North Wales excursion so far in 2023. It seems they regard North Wales as a depressed economic area where people cannot afford their prices. On the other hand Statesman Rail are running 7 railtours from affluent areas of England and Scotland into North Wales including no less than 5 planned for Blaenau Ffestiniog with an optional trip on the FR to Tan-y-bwlch and back. If the rail route from Bangor to Caernarfon had not been closed these tours could come to the WHR and benefit that line as an alternative. Let us hope the route is reinstated in the future!
| Date | Railtour Name | From-To | Promoter | Loco |
| 1/3/23 | Welsh Marches Express | Holyhead IST Crewe -Cardiff | Saphos trains | Steam pool |
| 1/4/23 | The Snowdonian | Euston - Llandudno Junction, coaches to Caernarfon/Blaenau Ffestiniog | UK Railtours | Diesel/electric |
| 16/4/23 | The Great Britain XV Day 2 | Bristol-Holyhead-Llandudno Junction | RTC | S45596 |
| 21/4/23 | The Cambrian Coast Express | Bristol IST Shrewsbury-Pwllheli | Pathfinder | 67/2x97/s |
| 29/4/23 | The Llandudno Victorian Statesman | Didcot Parkway IST Stourbridge Jn-Llandudno | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 1/5/23 | The Llandudno Victorian Statesman | Bournemouth IST Bath-Llandudno | Midland Pullman | LSL Pullman |
| 1/5/23 | Calan Mai | Derby to Llandudno and Holyhead via goods loops | BLS | 50008/2x20 |
| 10/5/23 | The Snowdonia Statesman | Chesterfield IST Nuneaton - Betws-y-coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog * | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 7/6/23 | The Snowdonia Statesman | Hull IST Manchester Victoria - Betws-y-coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog * | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 12/7/23 | The Snowdonia Statesman | Kilmarnock IST Lancaster - Betws-y-coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog * | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 26/8/23 | North Wales Coastal Pullman | Plymouth (and stations to Filton Abbey Wood)-Llandudno | Midland Pullman | LSL Pullman |
| 13/9/23 | The Snowdonia Statesman | High Wycombe IST Birmingham NS - Betws-y-coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog * | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 11/10/23 | The Snowdonia Statesman | Stevenage IST Nuneaton - Betws-y-coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog * | Statesman Rail | LSL Pullman |
| 9/12/23 | Then Chester Christmas Crompton | Eastleigh (stations to Filton Abbey Wood for Bristol)-Chester | Pathfinder | 2x Class 33s |
| 14/12/23 | The Christmas Northern Belle | Liverpool Lime Street (Crewe, Chester)-Holyhead | Northern Belle | 2xWCR 47s |
| 19/12/23 | Edinburgh Christmas Pullman | Holyhead-(stations to Preston)-Edinburgh Waverley | Midland Pullman | LSL Pullman HST |
IST= intermediate stations to
* Optional trip on Festiniog Railway (Blaenau Ffestiniog to Tan-y-bwlch)
Loco: TBA=To be announced
pu=pick up locations e.g.. NWC = principle stations on North Wales Coast
Promoters: