Friends of the Rail Forum

The Choo-Tjoe will run until end June

2009/03/26
Cathy Dippnall GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT

The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe will keep running until the end of June, according to Western Cape finance, economic development and tourism MEC Garth Strachan.

Earlier this week, The Herald reported staff morale at the Choo-Tjoe was at an all-time low.

Nichol Marais, owner of a scenic rail experience in motorised rail cars from the museum, said the tourism industry had become despondent with the slow progress in deciding the Choo-Tjoe’s fate.

Strachan said the uncertainty was regrettable and that he sympathises with the workers.

Read the full report in your copy of the Garden Route edition of The Herald tomorrow.

MEC steams closer to Choo-Tjoe rescue plan
2009/03/23
Cathy Dippnall GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT dippnallc@avusa.co.za

PLANS to save the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe include a shorter run between Sedgefield and Wilderness, moving the museum and train workshop to Sedgefield and possibly building an upmarket hotel at the station and a rotunda at Wilderness.
Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Garth Strachan will announce the outcome of talks with the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steering committee tomorrow and, according to reliable sources, the train could run for another three months.
The committee met the provincial tourism department in George yesterday to discuss the future of the iconic steam train and the Transnet Heritage train museum, which the state transport company last month apparently threatened to close.
Strachan appealed for calm after employees and tourism operators panicked on learning from Transnet officials that they could lose their jobs at the end of this month.
Strachan spoke to Transnet acting chief executive Karl Socikwa to seek an agreement that no final decision on the future of the Choo-Tjoe be made until reports from engineers Arcus Gibb and the steering committee had been completed.
The steering committee is considering business plans to save the Choo-Tjoe, including one proposal that it initially run between Sedgefield and Wilderness because it will cost too much to repair three rail bridges damaged in the 2006 and 2007 floods at Kaaiman‘s Pass between Wilderness and George.
Initial estimates put the cost of repairing the line at R130-million.
According to the business plan, the George-Sedgefield line is more economically viable than the current route between George and Mossel Bay, which is running at a loss.
The trip, from the Transnet Museum in George to the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay, was instituted after the floods made the trip between Sedgefield and George impossible.
The new plan envisages moving the Transnet Museum and train workshop to Sedgefield and possibly building an upmarket hotel at the station and a rotunda at Wilderness.
Although not part of the plan currently under discussion, a deal can eventually be made to repair the bridges between Wilderness and George if the business model grows and shows enough profit over time, or if talks with investors and other businesses in need of a rail service come to fruition.
From there, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe could in the years to come be extended to link the route to the George airport, Mossel Bay and inland to the Karoo.
A buy-in from property investors and tourism operators could see the Choo-Tjoe becoming the catalyst for tourism as it links into various tourist experiences, rather than just a ride on a steam train.
“As I understand it, a visitor could arrive at the George airport, take a Victorian steam train ride to his destination and later take the train to an overnight Karoo farm trip or an extreme adventure of some sort,” said Alan Winde, DA provincial legislature member for Knysna. “The train ride could be sold as part of a tourism package.”
The MPL said he had seen the initial proposal to run the train between Sedgefield and Wilderness and had discussed it with Strachan.

Neglected Choo-Tjoe running out of steam
2009/03/30
Cathy Dippnall GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT

THE Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe is chugging along indefinitely and staff morale is at an all-time low as officials at the Transnet Heritage Museum face an uncertain future if the iconic steam train closes down.
But Western Cape finance, economic development and tourism MEC Garth Strachan, who received a report two weeks ago from a committee looking at ways to save the train, says he‘s focusing on the upcoming April 22 elections.
His spokesman, Glenda Nevill, yesterday said Strachan was still perusing the steering committee‘s report after it met on March 9.
“We are very busy with functions leading up to the elections and he hasn‘t had time to make any announcements. He hasn‘t forgotten about it though,” she said.
George Transnet Heritage Museum manager Kobus Volschenk said it was unfortunate that decisions on the future of the Choo-Tjoe should come at election time as they were not given top priority.
He said despite rumours late last month that Transnet would pull the plug on the museum and Choo-Tjoe at the end of this month, operations were continuing.
“It‘s business as usual until further notice.”
Nichol Marais, who runs a scenic rail experience in motorised rail cars from the museum, said he was concerned about the staff‘s morale.
“It appears to me they are demoralised. The train has been operating with a diesel motor for the last six weeks, with feeble excuses that the coal is wet (when it hasn‘t been raining) or it‘s too hot. They have lost hope for the Choo-Tjoe.”
In February, Transnet staff were given unofficial notice that the Choo-Tjoe and museum would close on March 31.
Strachan then stepped in and appealed to the people of the Southern Cape to remain calm while he discussed the train‘s future with Transnet acting chief executive Karl Socikwa, to seek an agreement that no final decision be made until reports from engineers Arcus Gibb and the steering committee were completed.
The steering committee is considering business plans to save the Choo-Tjoe, including one proposal that it includes a shorter run between Knysna and Wilderness, as it would cost too much to repair three rail bridges damaged in the 2006 and 2007 floods, between Wilderness and George.
Initial estimates put the cost of repairing the line at R130-million.
The plan also includes the possibility of moving the museum and train workshop to Sedgefield with an upmarket hotel at the station and a rotunda at Wilderness.

Threatened closure of iconic steam train staved off for three more months
2009/03/30
Cathy Dippnall GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT dippnallc@avusa.co.za

THE Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe was thrown a lifeline yesterday – but only for three months while plans are considered to save the popular tourist attraction.
Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Garth Strachan assured staff yesterday that the steam train would be kept running until the end of June.
The Transnet Heritage Museum in George, which operates the iconic steam engine, was threatened with closure at the end of this month until Strachan stepped in. He initiated high-level talks to keep operations going for three more months while a committee tasked with finding ways to save the Choo- Tjoe completed its report.
Earlier this week, staff morale was at an all-time low.
However, Nichol Marais, the owner of a scenic rail experience in motorised rail cars from the museum, said yesterday it wasn‘t only the staff, but that the whole tourism industry was disappointed with the slow progress being made in deciding the Choo-Tjoe‘s fate.
Strachan said the uncertainty was regrettable and he sympathised with the workers. His department was doing everything possible to save the Choo-Tjoe.
“At the moment, the George to Mossel Bay train costs R800000 a month to run, this is not a small amount and that is why we got a private company in to assess the (various) recommendations,” he said, referring to recommendations by a steering committee looking at ways of saving the Choo-Tjoe.
The train used to run between Knysna and George but the route was changed to George–Mossel Bay after the rail line was damaged near Wilderness in the 2006-07 floods.
Strachan said with the economic recession, government did not want to cause job losses.
“The report is on my table and, in due course, we will make a decision which will be in the best interests of tourism and the Southern Cape.”
One proposal is for a shorter run between Knysna and Wilderness, as it is too costly at present to repair the three flood-damaged rail bridges between Wilderness and George.

WESTERN Cape Premier Helen Zille has promised to find a way to get the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe back on track as part of a commitment to encouraging tourism in the Southern Cape.

Delivering her budget speech in the legislature on Friday, Zille said the Department of Finance, Tourism and Development Planning would head the search for a way to save the train.

“To further encourage tourism in the southern regions of the province, we will find innovative ways to get the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, the last scheduled steam-train in the world, back on track.

“We will do so by involving business in investment for the train and other tourism- related attractions in the area,” Zille said.

Tourism MEC Alan Winde, who worked closely with his ANC predecessor Garth Strachan on a plan to possibly reinstate the service between Knysna and Wilderness, said he would do whatever he could to save the train.

DA MPL Marius Swart is expected to call a press conference today to discuss local business interest in the Choo-Tjoe.

Earlier this year, another company, African Power Technologies, said it might fund the rail repair and use the line to transport waste.

Company head Jan Vingerhoets said he was planning to meet Zille on its proposal.

The Choo-Tjoe costs Transnet about R850000 a month to operate. Estimates put repairing the line at Kaaimans and refurbishing the Choo- Tjoe at over R130-million.

In April, Transnet told workers it would shut the steam train service down at the end of that month.

Strachan managed to get a commitment from the parastatal to keep operating the train and museum until the end of June.

The new plan envisages moving the Transnet Museum and train workshop to the Knysna/Sedgefield area.