In 1864 the States of Jersey passed a law authorising the construction of the island's first railway. The first train operated in 1870 but the company was declared bankrupt in 1874 and marked a period of turbulence for the comapny as ot passed through the hands of many proprietors until 1883. In 1883 the Jersey Railway and the partially completed St Aubin & La Moye Railway were amalgamated into the Jersey Railways Company Limited but this too lacked financial support and declared voluntary liquidation in 1895. In 1896 the Jersey Railways and Tramways Co. Ltd. was formed.