Some background information - I understand that the following statement was issued to the press (including the BBC and Daily Post) by the FR Co on 13th January. (I've picked this up from another website and I can't vouch for it's accuracy.)
Britannia Bridge, Porthmadog
As part of its project to rebuild the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, the Ffestiniog Railway was granted rights under a Transport and Works Act to construct the basic railway at this location. The tracks across Britannia Bridge have been in place since June 2008, together with bilingual signs warning road users of railway tracks in the road and advising cyclists to dismount and walk across.
Before any road/rail crossing is brought into public use, the railway company concerned must apply to the Secretary of State for a crossing order. This process requires consultation over the design of the crossing with all statutory bodies including the police and relevant highway authorities.
Over the last four months, informal consultation meetings have been held with the Office of the Rail Regulator and statutory bodies ahead of the formal application for a crossing order which will be submitted during January 2010.
Once this order is granted the work will be completed on the crossing including the road markings and installation of traffic signals. The crossing will then be brought into use. Regular public train services across the bridge will not start until the spring of 2011.
The police wrote to us last summer expressing some concerns over the short tramway section of track across Britannia Bridge. We responded to that letter at the time and believe they were reassured on all the points raised and that the matter is now closed.
Once the railway is complete, around six train movements are expected on a normal day. Each takes less than two minutes and train speed will be limited to five mph as a primary safety measure.
Until the crossing design is finalised and approved the company has covered the rails with tarmac enabling traffic to flow in exactly the same way it did prior to the installation of the track. The completed crossing will make full provision for pedestrians, cyclists and road traffic to interact safely with railway traffic. Cyclists will be diverted via a clearly marked route which takes them safely over the rails.
The company understands that there is also a plan to extend the existing cycle track across the Cob embankment around the back of the Inland Revenue offices and thence to Llyn Bach, avoiding the Britannia Bridge completely.
When essential engineering train movements are required prior to the completion of the crossing, traffic management is put in place whilst the tarmac is removed and the train worked across the bridge. The tarmac is then replaced immediately afterwards.
Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, January 2010