UK Rail Track Manufacturer, Installer & Repairs
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UK Rail Track Manufacturer, Installer & Repairs
Modernising the UK’s Highest Switch & Crossing Infrastructure.
In 2024, KGJ Price Railway Contractors were appointed by Snowdon Mountain Railway (SMR) to design, manufacture, and support the installation of two new turnouts at the Clogwyn passing loops on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
The project marked the beginning of a wider programme to modernise the railway’s turnout infrastructure, replacing the UK’s highest set of switch and crossings with an updated automated solution designed to improve reliability, efficiency, and operational performance.
Snowdon Mountain Railway operates over five miles of rack railway, with the previous turnout replacement works having been carried out more than 30 years ago.
As part of a long-term infrastructure improvement programme, Snowdon Mountain Railway identified the need to replace the existing Clogwyn turnouts, removing the requirement for a blockman and enabling automation of the passing loop system.
Despite having little prior rack railway experience, KGJ Price were selected to deliver the first phase of the project demonstrating confidence in the company’s engineering capability, adaptability, and collaborative approach.
A key element of the project’s success was the close collaboration between KGJ Price, Snowdon Mountain Railway, and specialist suppliers during the pre-construction phase. Working together, the teams developed a fully integrated turnout solution, covering:
KGJ Price designed and built both turnouts at their workshop using original drawings dating back to the 1980s, carefully adapting the legacy design into a modern, reliable solution suitable for current operational requirements.
The project also highlighted the value of early contractor involvement, enabling efficient decision-making and coordinated delivery throughout all stages of the works.
The project was delivered across a five-month programme running from 27 October 2025 to 27 March 2026, with works split into five key phases:
KGJ Price provided specialist site support throughout the installation period, including a Site Engineer and Welder over two weeks of on-site delivery.
Located approximately 779m above sea level, the worksite presented significant logistical and environmental challenges, including exposure to severe weather conditions and restricted access.
The project successfully delivered the largest turnout renewal on the railway since the original Henry Boot turnouts were installed in the late 1980s.
Key outcomes included:
The project demonstrates KGJ Price’s ability to adapt to specialist railway environments, collaborate effectively with stakeholders, and deliver complex engineering solutions in challenging locations.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway turnout renewal highlights how collaboration, engineering expertise, and practical problem-solving can deliver modern infrastructure solutions within highly challenging environments.
Through careful planning, in-house manufacture, and coordinated delivery, KGJ Price successfully modernised one of the UK’s most unique railway assets, helping secure the long-term reliability and operation of the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway.
