Minister questioned over diesel locomotive

A diesel locomotive which cost the taxpayer £420,000 has been out of use almost five times as often as it's been in service, according to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer.

This week in the House of Keys he faced a question for written reply from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper about the engine.

Mr Harmer said since it arrived on the Island in December 2013, the locomotive has been out of action for 1,107 days - and fully operational for just 219.

After breaking down in 2015 the train spent almost four years waiting for repairs at the cost of almost a quarter of a million pounds.