The local authority that sought to axe the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway has called on the government to get on with reinstating it.
Douglas Council, which previously owned the historic tramway, has expressed its disappointment that the island’s historic horse tram service is still not operating along the full length of Douglas Promenade.
First introduced in 1876, the horse trams are widely recognised as the last surviving original horse-drawn tramway of its kind anywhere in the world and forms a central part of the island’s unique Victorian transport heritage.
Although Tynwald funding was approved in 2017 to reinstate the full route from Derby Castle to the Sea Terminal, the service currently runs only as far as Broadway, or from a building site to a roundabout.
Council Leader, Devon Watson, said, ‘As islanders, we should all be proud custodians of a service that is not only of local importance but of international heritage significance.
“As the capital’s local authority, it is deeply disappointing that, nearly a decade after funding approval, the full reinstatement of the line remains incomplete. This is a commitment that must be honoured.’
The Council emphasised that in this 150th anniversary year of the horse tram service, restoring the full route is both a symbolic and practical priority.
However
Back in 2016, Douglas Council itself announced plans to shut the tramway, sell off the assets and find new homes for the horses.
After a significant public backlash, the government stepped in and funded the tramway before taking it over fully.
The then leader David Christian said: “The council must always act in the best interests of the ratepayers of Douglas.
“To continue operating the horse tram service would place an unacceptable level of burden on the ratepayer, not only for the coming financial year, but also for the foreseeable future.
“The council recognises the important contribution the service has made to the island’s vintage transport heritage but Douglas, as with all local authorities, is having to make difficult decisions to fund, protect and develop key services.
“The council has a duty to face and adapt to stark financial realities, to maintain a firm grip on its finances and deliver value for money to the ratepayer. Were the council to continue operating the horse tram service it would be failing in that duty.”