CONCERNS as to whether Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will be reinstated over its full length have emerged during consideration of the 2021 Budget by Tynwald (Manx Parliament).
In January 2017, Tynwald decided the tramway would be retained over its full length amid redevelopment of the Douglas Promenades, with historic double-track in the centre of the road between Derby Castle and the War Memorial, then a single-track along the seaward side of the Promenades to the Sea Terminal.
Last year, reinstallation of the tramway from Harris Promenade along Loch Promenade to the Sea Terminal was postponed on the grounds of avoiding construction works during the 2021 tourism season, with the remaining section through to the Sea Terminal to be reinstated during winter 2021/22 (RM, August 2020). The Department of Infrastructure planned to use part of its approved general heritage railways budget to complete the project, but Manx politicians appear to have blocked this by requiring a confirmatory Tynwald vote. This seemingly means reinstating the southern section of tramway has to be treated as a separate project requiring approval of £1.2 million in capital funding.
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