We often hear about bus replacement services to cover for trams, but how about a tram replacement service to cover for buses! Well, that’s exactly what looks set to happen on the Isle of Man with the Manx Electric Railway getting ready to run earlier than planned owing to a planned strike on Bus Vannin which starts on Saturday 21st February 2026.
The strike – which will last for 10 days – has been called over the latest pay deal and despite talks aimed at preventing the walk-out, looks set to go-ahead leading to disruption for those wanting to get around the island to school and work, and just for general day-to-day shopping and the like.
Whilst a reduced service will run on the buses (which will depend on available staff) a number of other contingencies are being planned – and that includes the Manx Electric Railway!
Although the proposals are said to be under review and could still change a post on social media by the Isle of Man Government says that they plan to run a public service on the MER all the way between Ramsey and Douglas for both commuters and schoolchildren. Trams will then be met by buses at Derby Castle for onwards travel into Douglas City Centre and the secondary schools. The trams will be open to all and not restricted just to school students.
The planned timetable will see trams running before and after school and includes probably some of the earliest services for many, many years. The following services are planned:
- 0610 Laxey to Ramsey 0655
- 0710 Derby Castle to Ramsey 0825
- 0720 Derby Castle to Ramsey 0840
- 0810 Derby Castle to Ramsey 0925
- 1440 Derby Castle to Ramsey 1555
- 1540 Derby Castle to Ramsey 1655
- 0725 Ramsey to Derby Castle 0840
- 0840 Ramsey to Derby Castle 0955
- 1510 Ramsey to Derby Castle 1625
- 1555 Ramsey to Derby Castle 1710
- 1610 Ramsey to Derby Castle 1725
- 1710 Ramsey to Laxey 1755
This timetable is due to run between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th February, although is subject to revision after the first day of operation.
To add to the complexity there is ongoing trackwork at Ballaglass which may lead to delays in the advertised service. Normal bus fares are in operation as the trams are being treated as buses for this special service.
The past week has seen numerous trams from the MER fleet undertaking their usual drying out runs ahead of the new season, the advertised timetabled service due to commence on Tuesday 17th March. But it now seems they’re be out with passengers earlier than that with this extra special service to run during the strike. We bet you didn’t have this on your bingo card for 2026!
Very sad to see the tram staff undermining their colleagues on the bus side by running this strike-breaking service.
That’s one point of view, I suppose. Another would be ‘good on them’ for wishing to provide a service to the public, especially schoolchildren and the elderly.
You can’t break a strike you aren’t part of. So you are basically saying when there are rail strikes buses shouldn’t run………
Well done to the tram crews and management for using the MER as it should be, to transport people. And well done for showing it’s perfectly possible to run a full public service with vintage vehicles.
As for the bus drivers… well if they don’t like the money they get then why not go and do something different instead of holding everyone else to ransom!
The right to withdraw one’s labour is a fundamental human right. I applaud the bus drivers for exercising that right, and I hope that they get the result they deserve. Clearly the situation with the DoI is dire if they find it necessary to forgo their wages for such a significant length of time.
The value of the MER and the other railways to the island is, of course, immeasurable, but I find it very sad to see it being used in this manner.
I don’t think that this is the place play political points scoring. It is however quite common when essential services are not available for alternative arrangements to be made to minimise the levels of disruption. In this case the MER was available to provide transport for school pupils who would otherwise be unable to attend school. That seems a perfectly reasonable use of publicly owned assets. It will hardly make much difference to the disruption felt by the majority of passengers.
Everyone is entitled to their political opinion but this website is not the place for political opinion. The IOM press is the place for that.
This should be a straight forward news item. As such it is worthy of our interest.
MER running in February and before 09.00. Truly news worthy. Lets leave it at that.
Perhaps the political comment should be removed from this thread