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DIESEL COMMUTER TRAINS PLAN TO CUT TRAFFIC JAMS
Sponsors Wanted To Help Raise £100,000 To Restore Irish Railcars
So reads the headline in the Isle Of Man Examiner dated Tuesday 13th October 2009 following a request to the government’s Treasury Department from the railways for funding. The article follows the steam-hauled commuter trains that have operated in the race periods of both the T.T. and the Manx Grand Prix since 2007. Passenger figures are said to have doubled since the service was introduced in the centenary year of the T.T. three years ago.
The plan involves completion of the restoration of the railcars which was halted in 1999 following the escalating cost of the project, and would see shuttle buses provide onward transfer for commuters arriving at Douglas Station if the scheme goes ahead. It is further revealed that a section option is also being considered, which would involve the purchase of another diesel locomotive powerful enough to pull carriages at 40 miles per hour.
Member of the Department of Tourism and Leisure, Graham Cregeen M.H.K. who is the politician responsible for the railways, working directly beneath the minister, Martyn Quayle M.H.K., says “its something we need to get value on; we need to make sure we’ve got the right running stock - we’ve got to have the right vehicle”. Members will recall that the Supporters’ Association paid for a feasibility study to be drawn up by Alan Keef Ltd., back in 2007 and this is in the possession of the department.
This is not the first time the use of the railcars on such a service has been mooted by the railways’ management on commuter services. The most recent commuter services carried between 70 and 80 passengers, meaning potentially that the same number of cars are off the roads, which is an encouraging statistic. Mr. Creggen is appealing for a sponsor to come forward to contribute towards the funding of the railcar project, stating that “it wont be as expensive as originally expected . . . it would be great if there was a generous benefactor out there who would like to see them back in harness”
So, the railcar completion could be one step closer again; the proposal is currently pending the approval of The Treasury so we wait with bated breath for the outcome. What do our members and site visitors think? Is this something that the Supporters’ Association should be backing financially? As a steam railway group is this something our members would be happy with our input with? Feedback in the past has suggested this to be the case, and it is one of the more frequently asked questions “when will the railcars be done?” so we look forward to receiving further comments from members. We are working towards having this site’s forum online shortly which will be open for lively debate and discussion but in the meantime, if you wish to express an opinion please contact the website manager whose details appear on our contacts page.
You can have your own say on the Isle Of Man Newspapers website by following the link: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Diesel-commuter-trains-plan-to.5728061.jp
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