SEDGEFIELD NEWS - After collecting thousands of signatures campaigning for the resurrection of the now defunct Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, the Sedgefield-based Friends of the Choo-Tjoe handed over a petition to the Western Cape MEC of transport and public works, Donald Grant, in Sedgefield recently.
Over many years, the Friends have been canvassing public opinion by asking the simple question: "Do you want to see the Choo-Tjoe running again?" The popularity of the Choo-Tjoe resulted in the collecting of over 18 000 signatures from local people, and national and international visitors.
According to Siphesihle Dube, spokesperson for Grant, the petition has been forwarded to the team "carrying out the viability study on the reintroduction of the service".
Colin Jenkins, Friends chairperson, said, "It was an interesting exercise to see how people of all races and ages responded. When the line was washed away 10 years ago, it seemed to be the end of the road for this iconic route.
Transnet were certainly not interested in restoring the line for tourists as it did not form part of their core business.
Fast forward seven years and the situation had changed. Realising that they could not solely rely on bulk coal exports and other bulk loads, there was a change of heart. It was now realised that certain branch and secondary lines could in fact provide freight for the main lines."
With this mind, Transnet asked the local municipalities if they would look into ways of providing services that would supplement their mainline loads. In the case of the George-Knysna line there was a recognition that tourists would play a big part in any future plans.
One railway line that has already seen the benefits of this Transnet/private partnership is the Ceres line. During the week Transnet moves freight from Ceres to Cape Town and at weekends, tourist trains are run. (See details on www.ceresrail.co.za.) So far, the tourist trains have been a sell-out and booking is essential.
"So let us hope that this, the 10th anniversary of the closure of the line, will see its reopening," said Jenkins.
Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe
Ever since the railway line between George and Knysna was severly damaged during the 2006 flash floods, Western Cape economic opportunities MEC Alan Winde has been trying to get the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe back on track.
As the line is only a branch line, it does not fall within the greater Transnet strategy. Furthermore it did not generate a profit for Transnet before it was damaged. Therefore the repair was allegedly not a priority for Transnet.
During 2010, Transnet reported that the company and Winde had been in discussions regarding the George-Knysna line. The discussions hoped to ensure that tourism and other opportunities presented by the line were unlocked through the facilitation of the provincial government.
A Transnet task team reportedly investigated various operational models, including forming partnerships.
Early in 2012, Transnet chief executive Brian Molefe was reported to say that Transnet did not have the R150-million required to put the Choo-Tjoe back on track. Later that year, Winde was informed that Transnet wanted to see a business case study from the Western Cape government - a study which would assist Transnet in making a decision on whether it could transfer the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe's rolling stock to a successful operator.
Also in 2012, Molefe dashed the hopes of the Garden Route Cycleway Association who wanted to construct a cycleway on the unused railway line.
In December 2013, Winde’s department finalised a memorandum of understanding with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), for cooperation on all tourism development in the Western Cape, including the development of tourism infrastructure, tourism routes and niche markets.
Minister Winde said during an Eden district municipality business breakfast that he was cautiously optimistic about the future of the Choo-Tjoe.
During the Eden district municipal forum in George on November 21, 2014 Grant discussed the provincial government's plans to explore the possible regeneration of rail in the area, in coordination with Transnet. He emphasised the Western Cape's strategic objective of moving freight off the road, and back onto rail. It was stressed that there was no project and that no budget had been allocated to that work.
Mike Asefovitz, senior manager of communication and media for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), said they regularly received enquiries and passionate pleas from interested parties regarding the reinstatement and tourism application of the George-Knysna line, which requires a substantial amount of money to repair, and the company remained amenable to initiatives to attract freight traffic back to rail.
Transnet made it known they would only be interested in restoring the line if a solid business case and financial plan for freight traffic could be motivated - with passenger traffic a secondary supportive role.
The Western Cape government has a team carrying out the viability study on the reintroduction of the service between George and Knysna.
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, CORRESPONDENT
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