KNYSNA NEWS - A Pietermaritzburg steam train engineer’s attempt to "borrow" the Outeniqua rail for his own miniature steam train adventure caused somewhat of a rumpus – only to be followed days later by some official news on the Choo Tjoe that so many have been waiting for.
Andries Keyser set out on his train Doreen on Valentine’s Day, first because of his immense passion for steam trains, and second, because for six months he had been trying to get permission to do so, to no avail.
Nevertheless, he had his heart set on this mission and successfully got away with his journey on the stretch of track between Brenton-on-Lake and the Knysna train station, albeit illegally.
Stopped dead in his tracks
Once in Knysna, arriving to the delight of everyone in the immediate area, Keyser prepared to head back to Brenton-on-Lake.
It was at this moment he was stopped by Ronnie Webster from Featherbed, who instructed him to immediately remove his train from the tracks.
Webster informed Keyser that he was involved in a collective concession connected to the Thebe Tourism group, and pointed out that the biggest problem with Keyser's actions had to do with liability.
“If something should happen, then it could be chaos,” said Webster, even if he did agree that someone should have come back to Keyser regarding permission to use the tracks.
Warning of serious repercussions
Webster said it wasn’t a case of stopping Keyser’s “fun”, but that there were serious repercussions to what he was doing, such as possibly being "locked up" by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR).
“If the rail regulator has not given you permission, they will not just remove you from the tracks, they will lock you up,” said Webster.
Keyser proceeded to remove his train from the tracks, with Webster offering to help him follow correct procedure.
Classic Rail director Alan McVitty was next in line to take on Keyser.
After learning of the incident, McVitty told Keyser in an email: “You will require Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) approval and a permit from RSR. We are in the final stages of concluding all our agreements with TFR so this type of attitude and incident is unacceptable.
"Please remove your equipment immediately and I will be in Knysna tomorrow afternoon to make sure you comply.”
'Final stages'
In a second email, after Keyser replied, apologising but explaining that he could not obtain permission from anybody, McVitty said the following: “Classic Rail is in the final stages of closure with TFR on the George/Knysna Line Concession Agreement.
"When we are in charge of the line we will gladly invite you and your brilliant steam trolley to participate in all our planned steam train activities.
"In the interim, you will need permission from TFR and the RSR to access this line. It is still a TFR asset and you need to respect that.”
On Friday 16 February, after a video of Keyser’s journey was posted on Facebook and YouTube, McVitty showed up at the Knysna-Plett Herald's offices, accusing the paper and Keyser of potentially derailing and jeopardising the current plans for the Choo Tjoe.
Official Choo Tjoe press release
On Monday 19 February though, an official press release was issued regarding the Choo Tjoe plans.
A footnote at the bottom of the release read: “Please note: The George/Knysna line belongs to Transnet Freight Rail, and no train or trolley activities can take place on the line without their approval, as well as that of the Railway Safety Regulator.”
The presser, quoting McVitty, stated that the project is on track.
“We’re very aware that everyone wants to get the Choo-Tjoe steaming again as soon as possible – especially since it will have a real and positive influence on the local tourism economy as the Garden Route rebuilds in the wake of last year’s devastating fires.
“Please bear with us, though. Transnet Freight Rail accepted our revised business plan during January 2018, and they are now attending to the matter as quickly as they can," it continued.
“The processes of awarding the 20-year concession requires support and approval from the various levels of Transnet’s governance structure – including the Transnet Freight Rail Board, and the Transnet Group Board – before it goes up to the Minister of Public Enterprises for final approval in terms of the Public Finance Management Act.”
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