It is important that the horse trams are running, as tourists expect the heritage railways to be open.

That is the message from transport projects manager Ian Longworth as the Douglas bay tramway opened for the season.

The horses are operating on a reduced track of 500m, however Mr Longworth explained to the Examiner why even that short distance is still important.

Mr Longworth said: ’It is important we meet our contractual obligations to our holiday makers who are expecting to come here and ride on the heritage railways and visit Manx National Heritage sites.’

While the line is shortened, fares will be £1.

Mr Longworth said the island’s heritage system is worth ’17,000 bed nights a year’ to the economy, which includes deals with large history and heritage tour operators.

He also praised the work being done to rebuild the Strathallan horse depot, saying a modern building with a more traditional facade is important to the heritage system.

’It’s dead easy to knock down an old building and put up something modern, but we’re running a Victorian horse tramway and it all needs to be in keeping with that era’, he said.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer also confirmed the project is a little behind schedule due to the complexity of the ’massive engineering project’. This has included finding pipes which don’t go anywhere and replacing working infrastructure without disrupting residents.

Mr Harmer also confirmed a team is examining the potential for operating larger trams on the newly laid horse tram tracks.

He added that he ’personally’ would like to see MER trams on the prom. But it is ’only a potential idea not a definite’.