Concern Review has Pre-Determined Outcome

There has been concerns raised by local authorities that the review into the island’s heritage railways had its destination set before it began.

SYSTRA is reviewing the economic benefit and potential future operating plans for the railways, with a public consultation due to close this weekend.

In the minutes for its August 2 meeting, Garff Commissioners said that chair Stan Ryzak was recorded as giving feeding back on a meeting he attended with SYSTRA and other local authorities.

The minutes read: ‘Local authority Members were concerned that the review’s outcome was pre-determined, with potential recommendations to close certain parts of the lines. They found the questionnaire to have leading questions that suggested unprofitability in certain sections of the railway. The local authorities emphasised viewing the railway as a complete system from Ramsey to Port Erin.’

They add that people in attendance at that meeting had stressed the importance of the railways for tourism while Garff members ‘questioned the cost-effectiveness of hiring a UK company for the report and expressed the value of the island’s heritage railways’.

Chief

When questions on the review in Tynwald in July, the Chief Minister Alf Cannan appeared to give a rather muddled series of answers regarding the potential future operating length of the railways.

He said: ‘The terms of reference for the SYSTRA review have been available for some time now and they do not refer to reductions in length of lines or rolling stock. They do clearly state that the cost- benefit viability of each major section of the railway on a standalone and combined basis will be analysed.’

However, when later asked to commit to the full length running of the railways, Mr Cannan refused to be drawn on the matter despite several attempts by members, saying just that the review will ensure a ‘sustainable future’.