Heritage Railways ‘a Vital’ part of Tourism Strategy

With the future of the island’s heritage railways up in the air, again, one of the volunteers who support their operations has spoken of their importance for the island’s economy.

Mike Buttell was speaking after a review into the heritage railways was announced that will look at their ‘true value’.

That review, ordered by the DoI, will look at various aspects of the railways, including how they are run, the amount of public money being spent on them and comes after the Chief Minister previously suggested they could be run by an arms-length charitable trust.

Mike told Gef: ‘The Heritage Railways are a vital component in the islands tourist strategy, and at a time when government is actively seeking to increase visitor footfall on our shores it is important to provide and grow facilities for our visitors by providing pleasurable leisure experiences.

‘Over particularly the past ten years or so the experience offered to our visitors by the railways has improved tremendously with the Dining Train being the jewel in the crown of achievement. For local people too, the railways provide a much loved leisure activity, one that at a time when government are aiming to increase the population leisure will be a facility to entice new residents to move to our island.

‘One has only to look at the amazing response to our railways from the locals during the covid times, with trains regularly filled to capacity at weekends. Whilst the DoI may not perhaps be their best place to sit, over the past ten years or so the railways have become integrated with the public transport department, to the point where, as I see it, it may be very difficult to separate. Skills are spread over the departments and include facilitating the highly successful coach and cruise passenger business, which has grown phenomenally recently.’

However

While Mike and many others enjoy the railway and believe they do bring a significant tourism to the island, there are others who see them as relics and not something that should receive public money to keep operating, at least not unless they can be used as assets for the wider public transport system.

The review is due to report back by June and will take into accounts MNH’s review into the value of heritage to the island.