PLANS for a tram or light railway from the west to town and beyond appear to have come off the rails.

Transport Minister Guy de Faye told the States yesterday that the estimated costs — £80 million to build the railway and £500,000 a year to run it — made the proposal a non-starter.

Asked by Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf about the proposals, Deputy de Faye said that the idea would not work.

‘The concept of mass transportation is of no relevance and is entirely inoperable in a small island like Jersey,’ he said. ‘The subject of light railways and various similar initiatives will be dealt with in a quite short paragraph in the integrated travel and transport plan when it is released soon.’

*Picture: Tram in Edinburgh