Following criticism from some quarters the Department for Transport and Leisure (DTL) have revealed the planned services on the Manx Electric Railway (along with the Isle of Man Steam Railway and Snaeffel Mountain Railway). The timetable on the MER will see the same service as operated in 2007 used up until Monday 28th September when a reduced two trips a day timetable will be introduced – running until the end of the season on 1st November. Fares are also due to rise by 5%.
Mike Ball, Director of Service Delivery at the Department for Tourism and Leisure, said: “Like all government departments we've been grappling with the implications of budgetary issues. It's been incredibly difficult to balance the books. But the new timetable has now been agreed and apart from a reduction in service in October and a slight increase in fares, it's business as usual. The department is aware that the delay in producing the timetable had resulted in some free publicity being lost.
Those concerned about the closure of the MER last year need to recognise because of the considerable investment we've made, we've got a service that is a lot more secure. Passengers will certainly notice a smoother ride.”
* A copy of the 2009 timetable can be found here - services will commence on 6th April.
Source: Isle of Man Today