Isle of Man Transport in uncharted waters?

Judgement Day · 18-12-2012 12:18am #1

Isle of Man Transport is the operating company for the island's buses, the Manx Electric Railway and the Steam Railway, so what are we to make of this?

IMR%2Bspecial%2Brail%2Bservice.PNG

The Bus Company's drivers are due to strike and yet the unionised Steam Railway (and Manx Electric) are gearing up to run what must be their most intensive service since nationalisation or perhaps even the 1930s! Could this be replicated here in the Spring when Bus Eireann introduces its new regime - there will be a strike. At this time of year there's normally only Santa trains on the steam railway and a very sparse winter service on the MER.

Judgement Day · 18-12-2012 12:29am

And here's the Manx Electric Railway's massively expanded service: http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/publictransport/Timetables/rail/industrial_action/striketrains2.pdf

If I was still a railway enthusiast I be heading over ASAP.

There's even a new halt being commissioned on the steam railway (near Colby) to serve a school, so the powers that be appear to be digging in for a protracted dispute. Apparently it's over the axing of payment for bus crews during their lunch hours.

Losty Dublin · 18-12-2012 1:04am

Judgement Day wrote: »

If I was still a railway enthusiast I be heading over ASAP.

You will never not be a rail enthusiast

Sponge Bob · 18-12-2012 1:28am

Choo-se Life ...from that fabulous movie Trainspotting. Get this classic on d'iPod for the trip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaTQqEXNd0k

foggy_lad · 18-12-2012 3:45am

Judgement Day wrote: »

Isle of Man Tranport is the operating company for the island's buses, the Manx Electric Railway and the Steam Railway, so what are we to make of this?

The Bus Company's drivers are due to strike and yet the unionised Steam Railway (and Manx Electric) are gearing up to run what must be their most intensive service since nationalisation or perhaps even the 1930s! Could this be replicated here in the Spring when Bus Eireann introduces its new regime - there will be a strike. At this time of year there's normally only Santa trains on the steam railway and a very sparse winter service on the MER.

Eh how long would it take to lay track to all the places that the buses currently serve? This works in the isle of man because the buses and trams/trains run alongside each other. The same is not the case here although the commuter trains and intercity services will take a lot of the bus traffic from major towns and cities places like Naas and surrounding areas are already at capacity on their closest commuter train services.

Conway635 · 18-12-2012 7:50am

It wouldn't happen here, as SIPTU are already rumbling that the strike in BE may affect other CIE operators - see below:

SIPTU’s Position
In circumstance where Bus Eireann unilaterally imposes changes to our members Terms & Conditions outside of the normal Industrial Relations mechanisms, and our members in Bus Eireann have no option but to resort to Strike Action, it is the view of the SIPTU Committees, of all 3 Companies, that members in Irish Rail & Dublin Bus should be requested to ballot for Action in support of their CIE colleagues in Bus Eireann.

Yours sincerely,
Willie Noone

Sector Organiser

You may recall the rail dispute with ILDA drivers back about 10 years ago in which Dublin Bus depots were picketed on several days, leading to service disruption, so when it's SIPTU the secondary picketing is likely to be even worse.

The likes of Aircoach, Citylink, J J Kavanagh must be rubbing their hands with glee.

C635

Tarabuses · 18-12-2012 6:26pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Isle of Man Tranport is the operating company for the island's buses, the Manx Electric Railway and the Steam Railway, so what are we to make of this?

The Bus Company's drivers are due to strike and yet the unionised Steam Railway (and Manx Electric) are gearing up to run what must be their most intensive service since nationalisation or perhaps even the 1930s! Could this be replicated here in the Spring when Bus Eireann introduces its new regime - there will be a strike. At this time of year there's normally only Santa trains on the steam railway and a very sparse winter service on the MER.

Fair play to them. The customer must come first.

Cookie_Monster · 19-12-2012 7:34am

the first train from Port Erin to Douglas engages in a wee bit of time travel

Cookie_Monster · 19-12-2012 7:35am

and I'm sure when BE and IE strike they can operate loads of services out of Moyasta to cope... oh wait...

corktina · 19-12-2012 8:55am

it will be a trifle difficult to run a steam train or tram when a motor bus has inexplicably broken down on a level crossing , no doubt with full connivance of the Union Brethren driving said trams and steam trains. Bizarre isn't the word for it!

gobnaitolunacy · 19-12-2012 1:03pm

I can't get over how the IOM railway survived into the 21st century on an small island with even less on it than over here????

Alun · 19-12-2012 2:07pm

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

I can't get over how the IOM railway survived into the 21st century on an small island with even less on it than over here????

Tourists, I'd imagine.

corktina · 19-12-2012 2:11pm

and state support in a wealthy enviroment and a good bit of pruning too

sligotrain · 19-12-2012 2:27pm

What was "pruned" from the IOM rail network?

corktina · 19-12-2012 2:39pm

I assume thats a genuine question so I'll answer....the line from Douglas west across the Island and then North on the west coast to the point where it met the Manx Electric at the Northern end of the Island and also the Foxdale Branch.

ArmaniJeanss · 19-12-2012 2:43pm

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

I can't get over how the IOM railway survived into the 21st century on an small island with even less on it than over here????

One 30KM line has survived, i'd suspect that on a pro-rata basis (acreage or population) that its a similar survival rate to ours.

Losty Dublin · 19-12-2012 2:53pm

sligotrain wrote: »

What was "pruned" from the IOM rail network?

Most of it, actually. There was 6 railway companies on the island, including the 3 companies behind it's iconic trams. The railway is down to about a third of it's pre war size; it's about 15 miles these days. The tram is largely intact though it runs a scaled down service off season.

corktina · 19-12-2012 2:58pm

it's a fine place for a holiday, but you need deep pockets really.... last time I was there, I was driving a pals Mk1 Cortina Estate and I parked under the trees watching the trams go by at the bottom terminus for the Mountain Railway eating home made fruit cake with my tea. A great day

dowlingm · 19-12-2012 6:13pm

Conway635 wrote: »

You may recall the rail dispute with ILDA drivers back about 10 years ago in which Dublin Bus depots were picketed on several days, leading to service disruption, so when it's SIPTU the secondary picketing is likely to be even worse.

The likes of Aircoach, Citylink, J J Kavanagh must be rubbing their hands with glee.

C635

Secondary picketing eh? They really want to test out that the champagne socialists in the coalition won't troop through the lobby to vote for secondary picketing legislation and/or a breakup of CIE with this as Leo's causus belli?

Judgement Day · 19-12-2012 6:35pm

corktina wrote: »

it's a fine place for a holiday, but you need deep pockets really.... last time I was there, I was driving a pals Mk1 Cortina Estate and I parked under the trees watching the trams go by at the bottom terminus for the Mountain Railway eating home made fruit cake with my tea. A great day

A little bit of paradise but I'm a bit biased.

All you could want to know and more here: http://manxland.wordpress.com/

We used to live overlooking the station throat at Douglas and if the windows were open the smoke would waft in....

Douglas%2Bfrom%2BAir.PNG