With work commencing at the close of the daily train service in November and a short break to allow trains at Christmas week, the North (Blaenau end) tunnel portal has been completed.
The tunnel was constructed as a major part of the Deviation to get the railway reopened to Blaenau Ffestiniog, bypassing the reservoir created as part of the pumped storage scheme in the 1950s.
It has been a long held ambition to construct appropriate portals with cladding in a traditional style. With the North end done, the South is expected to be completed next winter.
You can inspect this yourself from the comfort of the train when the daily service commences Saturday 30th March.