Horse tram to run full length of prom by 2028

Douglas Horse Tramway is expected to run the full length of the promenade by the summer of 2028.

The heritage transport currently travels between Derby Castle and Broadway – about half of the 1.6-mile (2.6km) tramway.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) has confirmed a construction programme is "provisionally" forecast to run for 35 weeks, with a tender for the works expected to launch early next year.

"Considerable analysis and development work has been undertaken since the department established a project team in July," it said.

Teams from the DoI have been digging trial holes on Loch Promenade to finalise the construction details of the project.

The full length of the horse tram route runs from Strathallan Terminal to the Sea Terminal.

It was built in 1876 to capitalise on the island's tourist boom in Victorian times and continues to serve as a popular attraction.

The 3ft (0.9m) gauge tramway still operates many of its original cars, and forms part of the island's heritage transport offering, alongside the Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway.

In 2015 the trams were temporarily suspended for resurfacing work on the promenade.

Plans were later revised allowing the operation to take place in the summer of 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The following year the tracks were re-laid and by July 2022, the trams began running again between the depot and Broadway.

Earlier this year, former infrastructure minister Tim Crookall produced a business case to Tynwald for the reinstatement to help facilitate the completion of the line.

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