Tram track upgrade plan proposed

The trams are popular with visitors to the island

More than £1m in funding is being sought by the Isle of Man tourism minister for repairs to the Manx Electric Railway to be carried out.

Adrian Earnshaw MHK is expected to propose the funding scheme at the June sitting of Tynwald.

If the plans get the go-ahead, more than three miles (4.8km) of track would be replaced, including the areas between Douglas-Laxey and Laxey-Ramsey.

Mr Earnshaw said there has been a "substantial lack of investment".

As the minister explained: "Whilst we are rightly very proud of our heritage railways we have to recognise that for many years there was a substantial lack of investment in long term maintenance.

"Since 1999 we have invested in track renewal on both the Steam Railway and the MER and this scheme is an integral part of the planned programme."

If approved, the scheme will be undertaken over the winter of 2007/8 when the railway will be closed.