Full Steam Ahead for Manx Heritage Railways

The Isle of Man’s heritage railways have recorded strong growth in passenger numbers.

All four lines have seen increased use since 2023 – and growth of 4.5% from 2024 to 2025.

Last year there were 129,245 passenger journeys on the Isle of Man Steam Railway, 155,494 on the Manx Electric Railway; 124,500 on the Snaefell Mountain Railway and 53,879 on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.

The steam railway saw a 3.86% increase in passengers between 2023 and 2025, alongside a 3.15% rise from 2024 to 2025.

There was a particularly strong performance for the MER which recorded a 17.76% increase from 2023 to 2025. Year?on?year figures saw a 3.67% rise between 2024 and 2025.

Passenger numbers on the Snaefell Mountain Railway increased by 12.04% from 2023 to 2025, with a 5.04% rise over the past year.

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway experienced the highest growth rate, climbing 19.66% between 2023 and 2025. The line saw a significant 9.51% increase from 2024 to 2025.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘These figures demonstrate the increasing appeal of the island’s heritage railways and reflect the hard work of our dedicated railways team.

‘Continued investment in our network ensures these services remain a key part of the island’s exceptional tourism offering.’

In July, the Manx Heritage Transport Festival will celebrate 150 years of the operation of the horse trams in Douglas.

The Infrastructure Minister told the House of Keys this week that work to restore the horse tramway along the full length of the promenade could begin within the next year.

A 2024 report by consultants Systra found that heritage rail generates £4.64 for the island for every £1 of subvention, falling to £2.88 when capital spending is included.