A carriage has been named at Snowdon Mountain Railway to honour Welsh classical-crossover singer Katherine Jenkins OBE.
It comes just weeks after the multi-platinum selling mezzo-soprano was asked to sing at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations next May.
The carriage naming ceremony, where Katherine was also awarded a special commemorative medal, comes during a year which has already seen the singer perform at the VE Day 70: A Party to Remember and Royal Albert Hall VE celebration concerts in May.
Katherine, who’s expecting her first baby in the autumn, is only the third person to be honoured by the railway and follows fellow countrymen bass-baritone Bryn Terfel CBE and cycling supremo Sir David Brailsford CBE.
Speaking after the ceremony, Katherine Jenkins OBE said:
“I’m so grateful to everyone at Snowdonia Mountain Railway for honouring me in this way. I’m so disappointed we didn’t reach the summit but I look forward to coming back with my family and new baby daughter.”
Alan Kendall, general manager at Snowdon Mountain Railway said:
“We’re so pleased that Katherine was able to come here to accept the honour. It’s a shame we didn’t get to the summit but we’re thrilled Katherine wants to return. She is a truly global superstar and a great ambassador not only for Wales but the whole of the UK.”
Last year, more than 130,000 people travelled on the railway, which is the only one of its kind in the UK.
For more information about Snowdon Mountain Railway, visit www.snowdonrailway.co.uk or follow on Twitter @SnowdonMR