There won’t be a further extension to the railway season this year, with timetabled services ending after half term this week.

However, the dining car will continue to operate through the winter.

It had looked as though the island’s heritage railways wouldn’t return to the rails after lockdown, until a decision was made to run the steam railway and Manx Electric Railway by Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker.

Last week in Tynwald, Mr Baker was asked by Bill Henderson MLC whether the steam railway and the dining car would be continuing to operate throughout half term and for Hop-tu-Naa.

Mr Baker, in not exactly a ringing endorsement, said: ’Local residents have supported the railways during this limited season and it appears that the railways have provided a valued attraction at a time when travel off-island has been difficult.

’The quality of life on the island has been challenged in the Covid-19 period but across the two railways over 36,000 journeys have been recorded.’

Mr Baker said the season would end on November 4 with only the dining car and the Santa trains running after that date.

Mr Baker said the railways have made a loss this year.

He said: ’The railways are all subsidised and depend on revenue and capital budget support. The limited service was therefore in no way profitable but income generated did exceed the marginal cost of operation.’