Safety concerns addressed, says DoI

'Snaefell Mountain Railway services start today, one day late.

There had been concerns it wouldn't be able to start running, following serious safety issues which necessitated an early closure of the railway last year.

Services were suspended in September, following an incident in August which saw a tram lose power and career down the mountain, before being brought to a stop by using a manual brake.

A statement from the Department of Infrastructure says changes to the independent braking systems on the trams have been completed and the test data reviewed by the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate and a brake specialist.

Head of the HSWI Bernard Walden says the body has reviewed a report completed by a railways braking specialist.

It backs the re-engineering of the fell brake system, together with improvements to other control systems recommended by a Department of Infrastructure-commissioned report.

Mr Walden goes on to say additional control measures have been put in place to improve the safety of the railway and these will be enhanced, as soon as possible, by the installation of more modern fail to safe braking and control systems.

He concludes by saying staff will be closely monitoring progress on the introduction of those systems.'

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