Manx heritage railway services may be reduced after government review
SERVICES ON the Isle of Man Steam Railway – as well as the island’s other governmentoperated heritage lines – could be reduced, depending on the outcome of a new government review.
The “appropriateness of the timetable… and the number of scheduled services” on the IoMSR, the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway are among the areas being examined by the Isle of Man Government’s latest ‘Heritage Railways – Independent Review & Economic Impact Assessment’. The railways are unique in being the only governmentoperated heritage lines in the British Isles, and the review comes just weeks before the IoMSR and MER celebrate their 150th and 130th anniversaries respectively (SR542).
The IoM Government said the review “should answer key questions about the value of the heritage railways and how the benefits arising from their operation compare to the costs. It should also review the of the current heritage operating railways model as a publicly owned and operated entity, their location within the Department of Infrastructure, and future potential use of the railways and railway lines.”
The review also aims to evaluate whether the railways “could be used to provide regular passenger and freight services”; analyse “the nature, extent and justification of the public subvention to heritage railways”; consider “how the Department of Infrastructure, Department for Enterprise, Manx National Heritage and other public bodies could or should be involved in heritage railways governance, funding and operations; and evaluate “other organisational structures, including charity and foundation status.”
The final review and economic impact assessment will be provided “by the end of June 2023”, the Manx government added.
The other heritage lines on the Isle of Man – the Groudle Glen Railway and Great Laxey Mine Railway – won’t be affected, as they are independently owned.