It has been revealed this week just how poor a state parts of the Manx Electric Railway between Laxey and Ramsey are currently in – and why Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw was forced into announcing that there would be no service in 2008 on this section. Now the question that needs answering is why was the track allowed to get into this state?
CDL undertook a survey of all the island’s railways over the winter after a number of incidents during the 2007 season. The report issued by the consultants said that the MER was mainly in a fair condition between Douglas and Laxey – in the main thanks to recent trackwork taking place. However, there are some areas of concern on this section with poor sleepers and severely corroded rail ends which could pose a significant derailment risk.
On the Laxey to Ramsey section the report says that there was a significant safety risk and that “these repairs need to be rectified to allow safe operation of the railway.” It is estimated that there were decayed sleepers on 5% on the length of the MER and there is rail corrosion on a worrying 30% of the line.
The report says that salt air is to blame for a lot of the corrosion and wear on the rails but that there has also been an issue with the removal – possibly by vandals – of track bonds which were never replaced. Another issue mentioned in the report is that due to budget constraints when trackwork has taken place the old rail was used again as a short term solution.
Four options were given by CDL for the way forward:
* Closure of the Laxey to Ramsey section in summer 2008 to allow work to place. The chosen option but subject to an urgent review
* Operating the service at reduced speed. CDL did not consider this a safe option as the risk of derailment was still high.
* Single line working whilst repairs were undertaken on the other. Again the risk of derailment was still high.
* Closure of the Laxey to Ramsey section in summer 2008 and undertake the trackwork on just one line, installing passing loops to make it permanently single track. Ruled out because the cost outweighed any savings made.
Tony Brown, the Chief Minister on the Isle of Man, has now ordered an urgent review into the decision to close the line. He told Tynwald: “'I am happy to review as a matter of urgency the decision. I have arranged for an early meeting with the minister and his officers and I will advise Tynwald of the outcome of the review.”
Mr Brown also revealed that just how the track was allowed to get into this state is also to be investigated. He said: “I have also agreed an urgent inquiry by an independent person into how the situation arose and to publish the findings.”
* A couple of photos of the state of the track are available of the Isle of Man Today website, just follow the link below.
Source: Isle of Man Today