Micro-ETS on the WHR
The original Welsh Highland Railway used the staff and ticket system. The modern railway currently also uses staff and ticket, however the FR Co. were anxious to obtain enough ETS instruments to equip the WHR. After a long search, sufficient ETS equipment to operate the entire railway was obtained in 2008 from the Irish national railway company Iarnród Éireann. The equipment became redundant after Iarnród Éireann recently modernised its signalling systems. Like that on the FR, the equipment obtained for the WHR is of the Railway Signal Co. miniature type.
As the WHR has no telephone cabling to connect the system, the FR Co. is developing a more modern alternative method of connecting the ETS machines. Until the system is finished, the WHR will continue using its current token systems. This new system obviates the need for telegraph lines by connecting the machines through the internet. This has led to the term "micro-ETS" being coined. By 2019, £225,000 had been donated by Ffestiniog Travel towards the costs of this project, with phase one of the project (Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu) due to start the same year. Token machines will be installed at Porthmadog Harbour, Pont Croesor, Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu. Intermediate machines at Pen y Mount and Hafod y Lynn are not planned at this time...