As concerns grow over front line services and benefits reliefs, the Leisure Minister has confirmed Tynwald will be asked this summer to approve spending three quarter of a million pounds on a new diesel train.

Tim Crookall says ?750,000 is needed for a new replacement diesel locomotive.

It is understood the engine will be a new build with an additional ?50,000 allocated for design.

Funding to replace the Viking, a German-built diesel dating from the 1950s, would come from the capital fund.