What’s Going on With the Horse Trams Now Then?

A revised funding request for the horse tramway extension missed the deadline for this month’s Tynwald sitting after Treasury said it was still waiting for key documents from the DoI, including detailed designs and feasibility assessments.

During this week’s House of Keys sitting, Treasury Minister Chris Thomas confirmed the DoI had submitted a capital funding request at the end of March, but said more work was needed before any recommendation could be made.

He said: ‘Treasury and the DoI have been working on this proposal to finalise the actual costs and the consenting processes.

‘The design, contingency and the technical design are all being tested.’

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall later said the business case was now being revised following ‘constructive feedback’ from Treasury and the Council of Ministers.

The DoI is now hoping to bring the updated proposal to June’s Tynwald sitting instead, potentially as a late item if needed.

‘We are doing our best,’ Mr Crookall told members.

Horse trams haven’t reached the Sea Terminal since 2018, before the £26m Douglas Promenade works began.

Since returning in 2022, the service has only operated between Derby Castle and Broadway, meaning tourists wanting the full nostalgic clip-clop experience still have to do a fair bit of walking. Much to Charles Guard and the rest of the island’s frustration.

Earlier this year, heritage railways chief engineer Andy Cowie said reconnecting the line to the Sea Terminal would cost less than £2m and could take around 40 weeks to complete once work begins.

So for now, the horse trams remain parked a few stops short of their old finish line. Will they return the full way in our life time? Time will tell.