Isle of Man faces transport chaos as 10-day bus strike begins Saturday

Schools and workers scramble for alternatives as buses grind to a halt. Can historic trams save the day—or will the island stall?

, and Administrator

2026 May 30 . 9:22 AM

1 min read

The image shows a paper with pictures of people, trains, and other objects, as well as text that... — The image shows a paper with pictures of people, trains, and other objects, as well as text that reads "The train that never stops - how the continuous transit system works".

Isle of Man faces transport chaos as 10-day bus strike begins Saturday

Bus Vannin will cut services from Saturday, February 21, after Unite the Union announced a 10-day strike. The action follows a dispute with the Department of Infrastructure over pay rates and working conditions. In response, the Manx Electric Railway (MER) will open early to help schoolchildren and commuters affected by the disruption.

The strike begins on February 21, reducing bus services across the island. An hourly service will run on main routes, with further expansions depending on available staff. The dispute centres on premium pay rates and proposed changes to terms and conditions.

To ease pressure on transport, the MER will start operating from Monday—weeks ahead of its usual March opening. Trams will run a basic timetable, prioritising school and commuter routes. The railway’s full 2026 schedule was not due until March 17, but a temporary one will be published soon. The strike will also close Banks Circus Depot to the public. Lost property will be moved to the Welcome Centre, and reception services will remain unavailable. The MER’s early start aims to fill gaps left by the reduced bus network, particularly for students travelling to school.

The strike is set to last 10 days, with limited bus services in place. The MER’s early opening will provide alternative transport for key routes. Further updates on timetables and service changes will follow as the situation develops.