A two metre deep sinkhole opened up on the line following heavy rainfall in February this year. Specialist engineers were called in to assess the damage and their interim report has now been received. Initial repairs will be made urgently to ensure the line can open as planned on 4 April.
Chris Robertshaw MHK is Minister for the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, which is responsible for operating the Manx Electric Railway, the IoM Steam Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
He said:
‘Damage to the Manx Electric Railway line near Ballaglass Glen is not expected to prevent trams operating between Douglas and Ramsey from 4 April as scheduled. We are grateful for the speed of the report from specialist engineers who have been much in demand with railway companies across Britain.
‘Repairs will be phased with the initial scheme to ensure trams can run, a second phase to upgrade drainage in the area and the third phase to address long term alterations that may be required. The initial repairs will cost in the region of £20,000 to make the line safe.
‘This is on top of repairs required on all three railways following severe weather-related damage that have cost in excess of £500,000 over the past two years. Additionally IoM Railways has undertaken a schedule of planned improvements, including more than 200 metres of life-expired track renewed at Howstrake before Christmas at a cost of £100,000.’
Weather-related repairs made since 2012 have included:
- A major drainage and track renewal scheme along 400 metres of the steam railway line from Meary Veg to Crogga Woods. During the summer of 2012 severe flooding on this section of the line resulted in 12 steam service days being lost. It has been repaired this winter at a cost of £250,000 and the section has
remained dry despite the high rainfall last month. - A 60-metre landslip on the Snaefell line, also caused by the extremely high
rainfall during summer 2012, was stabilised last year at a final cost of
£150,000. - A bridge washed away at Ballabeg, Lonan, on the MER line was repaired at a cost of £90,000.
- Santon drainage has been enhanced at a cost of £50,000. This work also followed flooding issues.
Minister Robertshaw added:
‘While it is accepted that Victorian railways are costly to maintain, it must equally be borne in mind that they are an essential element in the Isle of Man’s tourism product. Around 38 miles of railway have been retained but a further 30 miles were closed. An independent survey carried out by Ecorys in 2011 concluded that our remaining railways contribute £11million annually to the economy.’
Ian Longworth, Director of Public Transport, commented:
‘Last year passenger figures increased revenue by 20% on the steam and 13% on our electric railways. We have already taken bookings for 1,500 people on our railways during the first weeks of 2014 – with a total of 21 coach trips being hosted in March alone. We are looking forward to building on that through 2014 and beyond.’
For details of forthcoming IoM Railways events and Dining Car services go to www.iombusandrail.info.
Photo: Flooding at Meary Veg June 2012