September 26th, 2011
It's a postcard-perfect image of South Africa: the antique steam train chugging along the Garden Route, through lush forests, alongside lakes and lagoons, and past pristine beaches.
Pictures may be all that's left of the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, which hasn't plied its regular route since floods in August 2006 severely damaged the tracks.
The Choo Tjoe - pronounced like choo-choo - was the last regularly scheduled steam train in South Africa, riding for nearly four hours every day but Sunday along 67 kilometres of the southern coast from the Knysna station to the Transport Museum in George.
South Africa, pressed with other priorities, has yet to undertake repairs to the route. The train has tried running different rails to the west of George, but hasn't found a ridership for a less scenic route.
Transnet, the state enterprise that manages the nation's railways, decided to cut its losses a year ago.
"We are very eager to see it resume because it is very important for our heritage and the tourism industry in the area," said Tammy Evans, spokeswoman for the provincial tourism department.
"We have asked to take it over when it closed. We want the line, and we want the train as well," she said.
The Western Cape province and Transnet have held talks on a public-private partnership to revive the line, which could cost up to 200 million rands not including the cost of renovations to the train itself, which is now idle in a nearby "heritage depot".
Transnet says merely that it's "considering options regarding the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, including the reopening of the line."
"That line was never profitable. It was charitable so to speak," company spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela told AFP.
One Transnet executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, was blunter.
"South Africa has more serious problems to deal with than to finance toy trains for white tourists," he said, noting the still major investment needed in national infrastructure.
But the provincial government believes the train could find a way to pay for itself.
"We are convinced that that train line is so special that it could make a profit," Evans said.
The line used to carry nearly 120 000 passengers a year, mostly foreign tourists who would probably pay more than the roughly R120 that the tickets once cost.
The "Friends of the Choo Tjoe", which is lobbying for the train's return, says two private operators have already expressed interest in taking over the line.
"We are optimistic, but we are feeling a little frustrated by the slow pace of progress," said Fraser Howell, the group's chairman.
The infrastructure could be repaired in phases, starting with short journeys across the Knysna Lagoon, said the group's secretary Kees Estie
"We need to do it now, before the line deteriorates completely," he said.
Knysna is so impatient for the Choo Tjoe to return that it's already developed a new housing and commercial complex that doubles as a marina. It's just next to the train station, if the train ever arrives. - Jean Liou - Sapa-AFP
Outeniua Choo TjoeSubmitted by johan on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 23:01. |
It was always wonderful to experience this train ride with magnificent views, and it should be regarded as part of our heritage (ALL South Africans). |
Outeniqua choo chooSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 20:28. |
The comments by Transnet would be understandable if they would admit that tourism is not their strong point. But it seems to me that their record proves that their weak point is transport in any form. So to expect them to react in a positive way to the Choo Choo problem would be wishful thinking. |
OUTENIQUA CHOO TJOESubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 17:54. |
I remember riding the choo-tjoe when I was a young girl in the 1940's while on holiday in George, from George to Victoria Bay, or Wilderness and Knysna, and absolutely loved it. They were the good days of the SA Railways, that our latter day children don't have the privilege of enjoying. Yes, I definitely think it is worth re-instating for us Grandparents to treat our grandchildren. I have already taken my little grand-daughter on the Valley of 1000 Hills Choo Choo and she loved it so much. You have my full support and vote. |
PrivatiseSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 16:52. |
I don't think that the repairs etc. would cost as much as R200m. The Garden Route area is visited by hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year and if properly advertised, something that would in al likelihood happen with a private owner, the train would definitely be able to be self sustainable. |
Rather spend on Metrorail?Submitted by Hennie on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:57. |
Rather spend on Metrorail, But you dont either. It is so rundown that those who can afford to use a minibus taxi opt for that instead. There are train crazy people who will FLY from another country to ride a train like this. They will pay for plane tickets, car hire, accommodation, meals all of which are taxable and hugely profitable. Then after splashing out money they will ride this toy train which is not financially viable! Really? Does this spokesperson believe that tourists spend all this money just so that they can sit inside their hotel rooms and watch TV. Why not close Prince ALfred Pass as well, it does not make a profit. For that matter close the beach. No profit there either! What next, a game reserve without animals because even if renting beds are profitable keeping all the animals are not? The tourists will come anyway. |
Wastage of MoneySubmitted by Erich on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:54. |
The person states that there is better uses for money that pouring it after hobbies of rich white people? Could you explain what is better? Buying new VVIP aircraft for the airforce, for MP's to abuse for holiday trips? Spending ridiculous amounts of money in Africa for peace keeping/aid when we have so much to fix in our very own country? Get your priorities in order. Actually R200 million is nothing to what our government wastes on their own black people. |
Knysna Choo TjoeSubmitted by Willie on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:22. |
The poor Transnet Executive, I feel for him, he is more dumb than ground !!!!!!! The revival of the Choo Tjoe will create more jobs for black than for whites but the poor thing only look at tourists as white people. But he forgets that in total the country,s municipalities spend R70,000,000-00 PER DAY on everything except service delivery. So, in a lousy three days more money is spent by blacks on themselves in top municipality positions that to revive the railway line !!!! |
privatisationSubmitted by Alan on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:17. |
We lost the Banana Express in Natal due to these incompetent people dont let it happen to the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe. The Banana Express ran for many years Privately until their contract came to a end then the state took over and stuffed it up. Now ts gone and its been left for so long to repair the line is now economically enviable, so they say ! But sometimes thing should be allowed to run at a loss for the benefit of the surrounding towns which generate tourism and these type of trains attract the tourists. Rather sooner than later sign a contract to private companies and lets get it going before its to late or to far gone to do anything about it. |
Revival of the Ot.Choo-ChooSubmitted by J.C. on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 14:47. |
Yes it will be very beneficial for S.A. tourism and i am confident that when the renovation of the whole project is completed it will be surely selfpaying in a short period of time. The main issue is suposedly to get the green light shining for this project and to get the financial supporters. The absolute misplaced and quite racistic remark of Mboniso Sigonyela is so unproductively negative and regretable "South Africa has more serious problems to deal with than to finance toy trains for white tourists," Hopefully this remark will be replaced by: "We as South-African rainbow nation are so proud of this scenery tourist trajectory we can recommend it to any tourist who want to experience the best of S.A." |
The Choo-choo trainSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 13:13. |
One Transnet executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, was blunter. "South Africa has more serious problems to deal with than to finance toy trains for white tourists," he said, noting the still major investment needed in national infrastructure. I CAN SEE WHY THIS TRANSNET EXECUTIVE WANTS TO STAY ANONYMOUS. HOW MUCH INCOME IS THIS GOVERNMENT GETTING FROM TOURISM? AND IS THIS GOVERNMENT NOT RIFE WITH CORRUPT OFFICIALS FILLING THEIR OWN POCKETS? SO YOU ARE RIDING ON THE CREST OF THE WAVE OF THE INCOME FROM THE "WHITE TOURISTS" AREN'T YOU? I CALL YOU A BLANTANT RACIST |
Choo-choo trainSubmitted by Marie on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 12:34. |
There should be NO doubt to revive this train - anyone who disagrees has not been on this trip and experienced the scenery! |
Choo-TjoeSubmitted by Des on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 11:56. |
I live in Mossel Bay and get to see, on a daily basis, how the 2 x 19D steam locomotives have been left outside to rust to bits. Yes there is a GMAM garratt kept in a shed but that locomotive will be to heavy on the Knysna track not to mention added costs. In any event I bet that they have all been stripped of brass fittings, pipes, etc by now. Boiler certificates will be due (if not already) and so the costs keep mounting. Sad as it is the steam route will not be financially viable unless it is run by volunteers and the route opened to other activities, cycling, trail running, walking, etc. As for waiting for Transnet - well chances are better for the Rand exchange rate to improve to one to one to the US dollar |
Choo TjoeSubmitted by Kevin on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 11:53. |
The difficulty is that the cost of rehabilitating the line is not financially viable. It was however a welcome adjunct to tourism in the George Knysna area. |
Yes, there are more pressingSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 11:27. |
Yes, there are more pressing things than toys for white tourists, like UNEMPLOYMENT. Last time i looked, it was tourists money which was creating a lot of employment for blacks. So it is an opportunity for white tourists to contribute to the black population. Sound familiar. |
cycle trackSubmitted by paul on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 10:51. |
A more cost effective alternate use would be a cycle track linking Knysna and George using the old rail track path. This would probably bring in greater numbers of people and could be done over 1, 2 or 3 days bringing in more life to the B&B's and retaurants along the route and creating a more sustainable eco friendly "brand" of tourism. The steam train was also a cause of regular fires along it's route in the extended dry seasons. |
My tax moneySubmitted by Burnicus on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 10:48. |
Sometimes, I would like MY tax money to be used for things I enjoy too, not just free everything for the poor masses. Racist Transnet fool! |
Outeniqua Choo TjoeSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 10:37. |
The Transnet official will shoot it down, because it will reduce his salary per month by a few million. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide seek steam trains to travel on . This is a tourism goldmine, if they just explore it. Good marketing and they can get the Dollars, Euros and Pounds streaming in. If you privatise it, the Transnet officials will not benifit, so they will try to stop it. The country and tourism must get third place to their own greedy pockets. |
Outeniqua Choo TjoeSubmitted by Tommy on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:50. |
"South Africa has more serious problems to deal with than to finance toy trains for white tourists" |
Allow the White folks to run itSubmitted by Michael on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:49. |
If they are so worried that this is a thing for the white tourists, then let the white folks run it... We will revive it and use it and make it profitable, and we will get all tourists back into this beautiful part of our country... Transnet has a bunch of managers that are too scared to make a decision and take responsibility for that decision so as a result nothing happens. This train provided much needed transport for the whole Knysna Area up to Mossel Bay and this included more than just white tourists, the train line is already there, lets fix it and use it...Damn it... And make a decision... Double damn it... |
ComeauSubmitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:48. |
It's clear that this is largely a racial decision, judging by the comments of the Transnet official who didn't want to be named. |
The Choo-tjoe must run!Submitted by AJW on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:08. |
Transnet have systematically eliminated mainline steam because they are incompetent and lack the intellectual capacity to support it. There have been whispered suggestions that there have been racist overtones in their decision-making. Union Rail, a former subsidiary of Transnet, ran successful steam journeys AT A PROFIT and attracted significant numbers of big-spending overseas enthusiasts. Transnet incomprehensibly chose to shut it down none-the-less. Atlantic Rail still run steam excursions in Cape Town. Yesterday there was a Heritage Day steam run from Cape Town to Simonstown and back, with a train full of local families of all races. It was a lot of fun. Metrorail permit them on their lines even though they run their own hourly trains over the same tracks. Transnet somehow ridiculously fear that the mere 4 or 5 trains they run per day countrywide (fewer than Metrorail run in just the Peninsula) will somehow be interfered with by one steam loco on their tracks. China is busy constructing a 1000 kilometre line just for steam tourism. People that would have come to South Africa will now gladly spend more, endure longer flights, struggle with the local language and go to China instead. The revenue-, job- and skills- loss for the country is immeasurable. And it is entirely due to a complete lack of vision at Transnet. |