Earlier this year it was said that the Department of Infrastructure would be submitting a business case for the re-extension of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal to be heard at Tynwald’s May sitting. Now it probably won’t surprise you to hear that this hasn’t happened but the good news is that it should now be ready for June.
Up until 2018 the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway ran from Derby Castle to the Sea Terminal on a double track alignment located in the centre of the road. During the Prom redevelopment the tracks were relaid (again in the centre of the road) between Derby Castle and Villa Marina but the section from there through to the Sea Terminal did not return.
It was approved on at least two occasions that track would be laid for the remainder of the route – albeit on a new alignment on the sea side of the road as a single track with passing loop – but this never happened. There were various issues with the redevelopment which led to cost overruns and previously allocated money for the tramway was no longer available.
The past few years have seen several suggested moves towards a resolution but things have then stalled, but it did appear earlier this year that there would finally be a move to seeing if (another) approval to extend the line (which is in its 150th anniversary year lets not forget) would finally go-ahead. Despite the latest delays it is still planned to present a business case to Tynwald, even if it is later than promised.
It seems that the latest delay is down to constructive feedback from the Treasury and Council of Ministers to a draft business case which has required work to revise it. It is now hoped that it will be submitted the updated proposal in mid-May with approval for a financial motion to come in front of Tynwald during their June sitting.
Reports suggest that the extension would cost under £2 million (an increase from previous plans – which would have been £750,000 – but this is put down to a rise in costs since the original proposal as well as additional work needed now that a surface has been put down on the alignment). The work would take 40 weeks to complete.
Following submission of the business case to the Treasury – which will include detailed design and feasibility studies – they will be in a position to make a recommendation on whether to approve and then it would be up to Tynwald to make a final decision.