The Snaefell Mountain Railway will not run this year, meaning it will miss its 125th anniversary.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker told Tynwald that there were different considerations in running trams to the island’s highest peak than there are the steam railway or Manx Electric Railway.

The steam railway began running on Thursday and the MER began over the weekend.

However, Mr Baker said: ’In terms of the date of 125th anniversary of the Snaefell Mountain Railway, I appreciate that is a significant number, however good marketing people are able to create many marketing opportunities for people to take advantage of significant anniversaries, or birthday or heritage events.

’I’m very loath to open the railway for one day and I think that I will take the question back and look at what can we do in the department to celebrate that anniversary in the appropriate way.

’But I think we need to think innovatively and not just be bounced into opening up a service for one particular day.’

Return journeys on the SMR were confirmed as being down from 76,434 in 2018 to 49,852 last year.