How Our Heritage Transport Has Kept the Island Moving

PHOTO: David Lloyd-Jones

Right, this wasn’t on anyone’s 2026 bingo card… but here we are.

While the ongoing bus strikes have left commuters scratching their heads (and checking apps every five minutes), the Isle of Man’s heritage transport has quietly stepped up and said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this.’

Yes, the very same steam trains and trams we usually associate with tourists and sunny days have been helping keep the island moving. And honestly? Gef can’t help but love it.

Extra train services were laid on last Friday and again today (Monday) to help those who would normally rely on the buses, as the latest round of strike action ran from Friday through to Monday.

Normal bus services are due to resume on Tuesday… but not for long, with more disruption looming later this week.

To make things even easier, bus fare pricing is being honoured on the Isle of Man Steam Railway and Manx Electric Railway from Friday to Sunday, which is a bit of a result if you fancy swapping your usual commute for something a little more… vintage.

And let’s not forget, this all started even earlier in the dispute when trams were drafted in before the heritage railway season had even properly begun. February trams? On the Isle of Man? Behave.

But in all seriousness, it’s been a bit of a masterclass in making the most of what we’ve got.

The island’s transport heritage isn’t just there to look pretty, it’s stepped up when it’s actually been needed.

A big thank you has to go to everyone involved in making it happen, because it can’t have been simple pulling all of this together at short notice.

We’ve no idea when the bus dispute will finally be resolved. But one thing’s for sure, in a few years’ time, we might look back at this and think… did we really all get the steam train to work?