Horse Tram Plan Derailed by Charles Guard’s Latest Video

Charles Guard is back, and this time he’s got the horse trams in his sights again.

The veteran broadcaster and island historian has launched a fresh attack on the long-awaited business case for extending the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway back to the Sea Terminal, branding it ‘the biggest fudge I’ve ever come across in all my years of following Manx politics.’

The proposal, which goes before Tynwald this month, puts the cost of reinstating the line from Broadway to the Sea Terminal at £3 million, up from earlier estimates of £2 million.

The increase is down to Treasury insisting on a 50% ‘optimism bias’ contingency being applied to the project.

But in a video posted online on Thursday, Mr Guard was less than impressed.

‘In my humble opinion, this is the biggest fudge I’ve ever come across in all my years of following Manx politics,’ he said.

He pointed to previous public comments suggesting the scheme would cost around £2 million, questioning why the figure had now increased by another £1 million.

‘It’s not £2 million, it’s gone up to £3 million. So, in the last few weeks, they’ve added another million pounds,’ he said.

Mr Guard argued the uplift came from Treasury guidance, which he said effectively assumes the Department of Infrastructure would struggle to deliver the scheme on budget.

‘It’s the Treasury saying that the Department of Infrastructure are being optimistic in being able to put this project together on budget and on time for £2 million, so we’re going to throw another million pounds at them,’ he said.

‘That’s just extraordinary.’

Charles Guard

He also referenced UK Treasury guidance suggesting lower contingency levels for standard projects, arguing the tram extension should fall into that category given it is largely being delivered by an experienced local rail team.

‘The team have a proven capability,’ he said.

‘So it’s actually local people who know how to do the job and yet we need another million pounds in case it all goes wrong.’

The business case, due before Tynwald, sets out three options ranging from doing nothing to fully reinstating the line to the Sea Terminal.

Members are not being asked to approve funding at this stage, but simply to ‘note’ the draft and support it through further capital processes.

Mr Guard also questioned the wording of the motion, describing it as another example of ‘kicking the can so far down the road you can’t see it’.

He also referenced a past comment attributed to Treasury Minister Chris Thomas, in which he said the tramway would be reinstated in the next parliament, arguing that if there is political will, the work could begin sooner.

‘If you are a man of your word… you can do it right now,’ Mr Guard said.

The business case itself acknowledges the scheme would not deliver a direct financial return but argues it would enhance tourism, particularly cruise ship visitor numbers, and support the island’s heritage offer.

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