Trams and trains to replace buses

Contingency plans ahead of next week’s expected bus strike have been put in place.

The Department of Community, Culture and Leisure says it will use the Steam Railway and Manx Electric Railway instead.

This is on top of running the remaining buses on a Sunday service and bank holiday timetable.

It was revealed yesterday that drivers have voted to strike – if it goes ahead it will happen next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

On two of those days students are in school. Pupils in the south will be required to use the steam trains and those from the north will use the trams.

Minister Graham Cregeen says he’s disappointed it has come to this point but is still hopeful a solution can be reached without industrial action.

We’ll bring you more on this story later.