Bus strikes could see island return to steam

As bus drivers take part in a fourth round of strike action in a row over pay and entitlements, the government has drawn up contingency plans that include using steam train services.

Unite members employed by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI), which operates services under the banner of Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man, are staging a four-day walkout until the early hours of Tuesday.

The DOI said, as well as the Manx Electric Railway (MER) commuter service put on during previous strike action, the Isle of Man Steam Railway would be running services.

It would enable passengers to travel between Douglas and the south of the island at fares equivalent to bus prices, it said.

Previous contingency services would once again be operating during the walkout, including hourly buses on main routes south, west and north from the capital where possible, and MER services along the eastern coast to Ramsey.

No dedicated school buses would run on Friday or Monday, but pupils could again use their Go Cards to access all other services, including the railways.

The DOI has reiterated that its priorities for the contingency timetable remained "services between Douglas and Noble's Hospital, and Douglas and the island's main towns".

Unite members are set to take industrial action again between 27 and 31 March.

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