The Island's media reports on the latest development in the wake of the SMR Runaway Incident.
"Service Suspended With Immediate Effect."
"The Snaefell Mountain Railway has been suspended with immediate effect, after investigations concluded it's doesn't meet safety standards.
A statement from the infrastructure department says the heritage system is no longer compatible with modern safety requirements needed to ensure the well-being of passengers and staff. The DoI, acting with the Health and Safety Inspectorate, has closed the railway after a 'comprehensive review'. The department is now drafting in an Isle of Man Railways engineering team to provide solutions.
Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Railways services will continue as scheduled."
PLEASE NOTE THAT SINCE POSTING THE STORY ON THEIR WEBSITE, MANX RADIO HAS AMENDED THE ORIGINAL HEADLINE.
Read the full article on Manx Radio's website.
Isle of Man Railways announced the suspension of services on the SMR with the following post on their Facebook page.
SUSPENSION OF SNAEFELL MOUNTAIN RAILWAY PASSENGER SERVICES
"Investigations carried out following the incident that occurred on the Snaefell Mountain Railway (SMR) on 4 August 2017 have highlighted the challenges of operating heritage railway systems in a modern safety management environment.
The Department of Infrastructure has continued to work closely with the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate (HSWI) to identify a number of improvements as part of a comprehensive review.
Whilst the work carried out to date has provided much reassurance, addressing all the issues associated with operating heritage rolling stock has proved difficult.
The Department has decided to commit the skills and expertise of its Isle of Man Railways engineering staff to dealing with these matters, rather than to supporting day-to-day operations.
As a result, all SMR passenger services have been suspended with effect from today, Monday 25 September 2017.
The decision has been taken by the Department in partnership with the HSWI and reflects the importance of passenger and staff safety.
The Department has confirmed that Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Railways services remain unaffected and will continue as timetabled.
If you have booked an event on SMR one of our customer service agents will be in touch in the next 24 hours."
Isle of Man Newspapers have also run the story.
"Railway bosses say that investigations carried out following the incident that occurred on August 4 have ’highlighted the challenges of operating heritage railway systems in a modern safety management environment’.
The Department of Infrastructure and the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate (HSWI) have identified a number of improvements as part of a review.
The government says that while the work carried out to date had ’provided much reassurance’, addressing all the issues associated with operating heritage rolling stock had proved ’difficult’.
A spokesman said: ’The department has decided to commit the skills and expertise of its Isle of Man Railways engineering staff to dealing with these matters, rather than to supporting day-to-day operations.
’As a result, all SMR passenger services have been suspended with effect from today.’
He added that the decision had been taken by the department in partnership with the HSWI and reflected the importance of passenger and staff safety.
Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Railways services remain unaffected and will continue as timetabled."