Mossel Bay tries to save Choo Tjoe

A proposal to make the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe both a tourist attraction and a commuter train has given new hope the famous train could be saved.

The community of Mossel Bay yesterday swung into action to try to save the Choo Tjoe, which had been due for closure next week.

This followed a meeting between Transnet, the board of Mossel Bay Tourism, representatives of the Municipality of Mossel Bay, and local business people.

The meeting was called so Transnet could explain the procedures and reasons behind its decision to close the service, which has been running on the George-Mossel Bay line since the 2006 floods closed the George-Knysna line.

The chairman of Mossel Bay Tourism, Neels Zietsman, said: "At a subsequent meeting, held later in the afternoon, it was decided to urgently seek a meeting with the Acting CEO of Transnet, Chris Wells."

He said before deciding to close the service, Transnet had entertained two tenders for the operation of the Choo Tjoe, but neither had fulfiled the company's requirement that the operation should be taken over as a going concern.

"One of the tenderers, Classic Rail Preservation, has now decided to submit an unsolicited bid for the operation of the Choo Tjoe on the line between Mossel Bay Station and Hartenbos - both as a tourist attraction and as a commuter train - and all of the parties present at the meeting gave this proposal their unconditional support," Zietsman said.

Mossel Bay mayor Marie Ferreira said the decision to end the operation of the Choo Tjoe was a disappointment to the community, because of the historic value of the train and because of the negative impact on the local economy.

"I have no doubt that, from Transnet's point of view, the decision was well considered, and that it was based both on the economic viability of the operation in its current form, and on the company's stated objective of focusing on its core business of carrying freight. But, while I fully respect the decision, I would nevertheless like to appeal to the company to consider phasing the operation out over a longer period, to coincide with the end of the current tourism season that will end at the end of April, 2011."

This would buy time during which alternative arrangements could be made.

Cape Times

Posted at 09:26AM Sep 09, 2010 by Editor in Cities and Towns  |  Comments[2]