Nearly of a quarter of million pounds of taxpayers’ money has been spent on repairs to a trouble-prone diesel locomotive dubbed the Cabbage.

And it’s still not fixed.

Public transport bosses last month refused to reveal the full cost of works to repair diesel no.21, saying this figure was commercially confidential.

But now they have relented, after securing permission to release the figure from the UK-based contractor which has been carrying out repairs to the loco’s undercarriage.

And they have confirmed that the total cost spent on the loco so far is £246,800 – that’s on top of the £420,000 spent on the purchase of the US-build machine and its shipping to the island from the States.

That would bring the total cost of the machine to £666,800.

At the end of last month, no.21’s bogies arrived back in the island after repairs by Wabtec Faiveley UK.

Visitors on a tour of the workshops in Douglas organised as part of the Rush Hour on the Railways event over the Easter weekend had a first chance to see the repaired wheelsets.

A board listing the condition of the railway’s locomotive fleet describes no.21 ‘very u/s’ (unserviceable) and notes ‘don’t ask’.

Having challenged the DoI’s decision not to disclose the value of Wabtec Faiveley’s winning tender for the bogie repairs, the Examiner has now been given the full cost of the repairs so far.

In addition to works carried outside of warranty such as the replacement of bogie springs, brake cylinders and bearings, at a cost of £41,800, and a specialist examination costing £17,000, the overhaul and upgrade to the bogies cost £188,000 – a total of £246,800.

A spokesman for Isle of Man Transport said : ‘It was determined that the bogies were not of the required standard and required an overhaul and upgrade.

‘They were originally supplied pre-used to the agreed specification and standard, which had been reduced to meet budget constraints, so no liability could be attached to the supplier.’

Asked why the original FoI response gave a lower figure for the total cost to one already supplied in Tynwald the previous year, he explained: ‘We have been working on the locomotive throughout so the figure will increase with the work undertaken.

‘The original response included a significant proportion of cost associated with a competitive tender.

‘Despite being in the public interest, it was not felt to be fair to the contractor or ethical to release a confidential tender figure as this would be likely to adversely affect any future tender and could impact the contractor’s business.

‘We have subsequently received permission from the contractor to release the figure.’

Diesel no.21 arrived in the island in December 2013.

But various teething problems were soon identified including a problem with overheating.

The engine was subsequently replaced by the engine manufacturer under warranty.

Following a second phase of commissioning testing, the loco was accepted and ran for a time until issues were identified with the bogies, which are more than 40 years old and not covered by the warranty.

It has not turned a wheel since June 2015.

In February this year, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer admitted its purchase had been a mistake.

The original plan had been to buy a completely new loco at a cost of £750,000.

But in the event, a machine built using reconditioned second hand parts was purchased.