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October re-launch for Choo-Tjoe
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Date: 2009/08/24 06:11
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By: admin
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Status: Admin
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Admin
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October re-launch for Choo-Tjoe
THE iconic Outenqua Choo-Tjoe, Africa’s last scheduled steam train, will be re-launched in October when Transnet has completed its routine maintenance.
Western Cape Tourism MEC Alan Winde, who met the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steering committee in George at the weekend, said the operation from the George Transport Museum to the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay was expected to recommence on October 1.
Also attending the meeting were the mayors of Eden District, Knysna and Mossel Bay, as well as representatives from Transnet, the provincial government and local tourism associations.
“We will use this occasion as an opportunity to re-launch the Choo- Tjoe in co-ordination with the municipalities and tourism associations in the region,” Winde said.
He said Transnet had assured him that it would continue to operate the service until it could be handed over to an appointed operator through an open and competitive tender process, preceded by an information and awareness session to be facilitated by the Western Cape government and the parastatal.
“The purpose of the information and awareness session will be to provide a briefing to all stakeholders, affected parties and the private sector on the call for expressions of interest,” Winde said.
It was envisaged that the process would be separated into two phases.
One would deal with the George- Mossel Bay line.
The second would involve the George-Knysna line, which was damaged at Kaaimans Pass in floods in 2006 and 2007.
Transnet, which at the time was already considering selling off its non-core assets, said it would cost more than R100-million to repair the line and refurbish the coaches.
“Although the processes culminating in the handover will be operated by Transnet, agreement has been reached that the provincial government will be meaningfully engaged on all matters leading up to the handover,” Winde said.
In order to increase patronage and boost interest in the Choo-Tjoe, he said, he would make sure that the current George-Mossel Bay service was marketed extensively at provincial and local level.
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