All Aboard the Backup Plan

The school run is about to get a little bit vintage.

Trams are being wheeled out earlier than planned to help get youngsters to school during the Bus Vannin drivers’ strike.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) has confirmed the Manx Electric Railway (MER) will begin running from Monday to support both schoolchildren and commuters while bus services are reduced because of industrial action.

Now, for the transport buffs among you, the MER doesn’t usually start up until March.

In fact, the 2026 timetable online had services pencilled in to begin on March 17.

But plans have been shuffled faster than you can say ‘ding ding’ and a basic timetable is now being prepared, with details to be published shortly.

The move comes after Bus Vannin confirmed it will reduce services from Saturday, February 21, following confirmed strike action.

Because staffing levels during the strike aren’t fully known, the department says it’s planning to run an hourly service along main bus corridors to begin with, expanding services once it has a clearer picture of available resources.

Passengers are being strongly advised to keep a close eye on Bus Vannin’s social media channels and check findmybus.im daily for the latest updates.

There’s also a knock-on effect at Banks Circus Depot, which will close to the public for the duration of the strike due to resource pressures.

Lost property will be redirected to the Welcome Centre, while reception services will be unavailable.

The industrial action stems from an ongoing dispute between Unite the Union and the DoI over premium pay rates and proposed changes to terms and conditions, including sick pay and holidays.

Earlier this week, the department said a fifth offer had been tabled during talks facilitated by the Manx Industrial Relations Service, but it was rejected by the union. The strike is expected to last 10 days.

How will this strike impact you? Get in touch at hello@gef.im.