Douglas Horse Trams to run over truncated route – no plans for full reinstatement

CONCERNS over whether Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will be reinstated over its full original route to the Sea Terminal continue, with news that the line will open for the new season between Derby Castle and a terminus some way short of the War Memorial on the seaward side of Central Promenade. The reopening date had not been confirmed by early February.

Although in January 2017 Tynwald (Manx Parliament) decided the tramway would be retained over its full length amid redevelopment of the Douglas

Promenades, doubts arose last year over whether finance would be made available to fully implement this (RM, April 2021).

The plan had been for the historic double-track tramway to be reinstated as far as the War Memorial with a single track continuing to the Sea Terminal. The Manx Government’s new Infrastructure Minister, Tim Crookall, is now quoted as stating there are no current plans for his department to progress extending the horse tramway further southwards, even as far as the War Memorial.