2025 was another year of increasing passenger numbers on Isle of Man Railways with all four lines (Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway) seeing more use than the previous year. Overall passenger numbers across all the heritage lines were up by 4.5% when compared to 2024, helping to show the importance of the rail network from both residents and visitors.
Passenger numbers recorded in 2025 were:
- Douglas Bay Horse Tramway – 53,879
- Isle of Man Steam Railway – 129,245
- Manx Electric Railway – 155,494
- Snaefell Mountain Railway – 124,500
The line enjoying the highest increase was the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway (despite the fact that it continues to only run from Derby Castle to Villa Marina) which saw a 9.51% increase between 2024 and 2025. The increase from 2023 to 2025 was even bigger – at 19.66%
The Manx Electric Railway continues to be the line which carries the most passengers with 155,494 enjoying the ride between Derby Castle and Ramsey. This was a 3.67% increase from 2024, and a 17.76% rise between 2023 and 2025.
For the Snaefell Mountain Railway the past year saw a 5.04% increase from 2024, and 12.04% from 2023 to 2025, whilst the Isle of Man Steam Railway was up 3.15% from 2024-2025 and 3.86% between 2023 and 2025.
Tim Crookall MHK, Infrastructure Minister, said: “These figures demonstrate the increasing appeal of the Island’s heritage railways and reflect the hard work of our dedicated railways team.
“Each line offers a unique experience, and we’re delighted to see both residents and visitors making greater use of these important cultural assets. Continued investment in our network ensures that these iconic services remain a key part of the Island’s exceptional tourism offering.”
The 2026 season has started earlier than ever with the MER helping move passengers from the north of the island into Douglas during bus strikes. The main seasons get underway on 17th March (MER), 19th March (Steam Railway), 28th March (Snaefell Mountain Railway) and 2nd April (Horse Tramway).