Well, they do say a week is a long time in politics! Only a week after Tim Crookall, Infrastructure Minister on the Isle of Man Government, said that he was doubtful that the horse trams would run in any form this year he has now changed his tune and has said he is more confident of it happening!<\/p>\n
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Quite what has led to his change of opinion is unclear (maybe he found a set of points in his back garden after all?!) but in a more recent interview he said: \u201cI\u2019m more confident that the horse trams will run later this summer, and will provide a further update when we get closer to TT. We\u2019ll be aiming for the end of July and for the season to last around 10 to 12 weeks. This is still not definite and depends on a range of issues \u2013 including the smooth installation of the points and training for the horses \u2013 but the prospect of seeing the horse trams in action this year is looking a lot more promising.\u201d<\/p>\n
If \u2013 and it does still remain a big if as let\u2019s be honest the story could have changed again next week \u2013 the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway does run in 2022 it will only be the shortened route from Derby Castle to Broadway which operates but at least its something (which is possibly what they\u2019re hoping we all think!).<\/p>\n
This latest delay in reopening \u2013 horse tram last ran in 2019 \u2013 is a set of points needed at the Broadway end of the route. After inspections the originally installed infrastructure was not cleared for operation and so a new set had to be ordered from the UK. This didn\u2019t happen until January and despite hopes they would be quickly delivered this hasn\u2019t been possible and so it has been a waiting game. But now, presumably, there is a more positive delivery schedule which could see a limited service run later this year.<\/p>\n
Although this would be the first public service trams of the year, there has already been a horse tram run for a short distance during later April. 36 was used for a filming assignment on behalf of the BBC\u2019s Antiques Roadshow and in doing so was the first horse tram to run since 2019, not only on the Isle of Man but the whole of the British Isles!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well, they do say a week is a long time in politics! Only a week after Tim Crookall, Infrastructure Minister on the Isle of Man Government, said that he was doubtful that the horse trams would run in any form … Continue reading