Transport bosses have failed to provide any contract setting out their obligation to run the loss-making horse trams while the Promenade project is underway.

The Department of Infrastructure says it has a ’contractual obligation’ to maintain the operation of the horse trams during the 2019 season - and this is why the tram corridor has been installed first before the new roadway.

The Manx Independent submitted a Freedom of Information request for a copy of any contract stating that the government has to provide a horse tram service this year.

However, in response, the DoI supplied photocopies of three travel brochures, a single page outlining what tourists can expect from a heritage themed trip to the island and a draft copy of the UK’s Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

We asked for: ’The publication of any and all contracts which says the Department of Infrastructure had to provide a horse tram service this year.

’This contractual obligation has been referred to by both senior civil servants and political members in various comments and statements.

’If it is only possible to release the details of these contracts with the financial arrangements in place redacted that will suffice but I want to see in black and white why the island had to provide a horse tram service this year.’

In its response, the DoI said the UK’s regulations ’demonstrates our commitment to travel companies in the provision of excursions to be included as part of their Isle of Man holiday itineraries’.

Under UK regulations, which follow an EU directive, package travel organisers or retailers must provide to the traveller ’all essential information about the package before concluding the package travel contract’.

It also says that travellers can cancel their package with a full refund ’if any of the essential elements of the package, other than the price, are changed significantly’.

’Suitable alternative arrangements’ will have to be offered at no extra cost if the significant elements cannot be provided as agreed, it states.

The VisitIoM website states that Douglas Bay Horse Trams ’may be subject to change due to the Douglas Promenade regeneration works’.

Isle of Man railway holidays offered through Isle of Man Events Services Ltd notes in its booking conditions that if there are changes beyond their control, travellers can choose to accept the change or an alternative of similar standard, or cancel and get a full refund.

A 470m section of the tram line has reopened from Strathallan to Marathon Terrace and it is hoped the line will be extended to the Palace Hotel in time for the Festival of Motorcycling. Before the works began, the line was 1.6 miles (2.57km) long.

Asked why contractors are focusing on the tram track rather than the roadway, the DoI replied: ’The department has contractual obligations to maintain the operation of the horse tram during the 2019 season, hence the requirement to install the new section of tram corridor to allow a temporary operation.’

The DoI said it has worked with tour operators over many years to build a strong relationship and encourage repeat and new business to the island.

It said: ’To ensure that tour operators continue to promote the Isle of Man as a destination the department is committed to operating the advertised rail and tram services.

’The cancellation of key services is proven to have a negative long-term effect on business, with operators put off returning in future. For example, it took five years for passenger numbers to recover on the Laxey to Ramsey route following an emergency closure in 2008.’

During a recent Tynwald committee appearance discussing the planning behind the Promenade scheme, DoI Minister Ray Harmer (pictured left) said the feeling in 2018 was that ’it would be nice to have the horse trams running, but if they don’t that’s absolutely fine’.

Brochures

During the same committee hearing, director of highways Jeff Robinson said the decision to prioritise the central corridor had been taken by the contractor Auldyn Construction Ltd. He said: ’They were responsible for putting the programme and schedule together.’

The DoI said in its response to our FoI that ’many travel organisations prepare marketing material a number of years in advance’.

In the brochures, the horse trams are listed in two brochures as part of a heritage rail trip to the island included in the packages offered.

The third, from New Market Holidays, only invited visitors to: ’Stroll along the promenades that fringe the bay and sandy beach, or take a more leisurely horse-drawn tram when they are operating.’

In the other two brochures, from www.greatrail.com and a company we couldn’t identify, the horse trams are listed as part of the day out on the Manx Electric Railway.

However, visitors are made aware that the horse trams ’may not operate’ in April and October on the Great Rail website.

Since the committee hearing, a statement has been released by its members welcoming Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan’s response to the evidence and his proposal for a centralised major projects unit to oversee large works.