A landslip at Ballaglass could mean the Manx Electric Railway won’t reopen between Laxey and Ramsey for the start of the 2014 season.
Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said he could not guarantee that the damage would be repaired in time for the reopening date in April.
He said: ‘We are checking out the damage but until then I can’t guarantee the line is going to reopen between Laxey and Ramsey.
‘They are currently evaluating the position, the extent of the damage and how it will be put right. It would be wrong to speculate at the moment about when the line will reopen.’
Colin Kniveton, chief executive of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, said: ‘Ballaglass is one of a number of weather related problems that we are currently responding to. To the best of my knowledge, the cause of the problem and the necessary remedial works have yet to be fully assessed. This process is ongoing.’
The northern section of the line was forced to close for part of the summer season in 2008 for major track repairs after a survey highlighted a large number of corroded rails and other defects that posed a significant safety risk.