PLANS to save the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe include a shorter run between Sedgefield and Wilderness, moving the museum and train workshop to Sedgefield and possibly building an upmarket hotel at the station and a rotunda at Wilderness.

Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Garth Strachan will announce the outcome of talks with the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steering committee tomorrow and, according to reliable sources, the train could run for another three months.

The committee met the provincial tourism department in George yesterday to discuss the future of the iconic steam train and the Transnet Heritage train museum, which the state transport company last month apparently threatened to close.

Strachan appealed for calm after employees and tourism operators panicked on learning from Transnet officials that they could lose their jobs at the end of this month.

Strachan spoke to Transnet acting chief executive Karl Socikwa to seek an agreement that no final decision on the future of the Choo-Tjoe be made until reports from engineers Arcus Gibb and the steering committee had been completed.

The steering committee is considering business plans to save the Choo-Tjoe, including one proposal that it initially run between Sedgefield and Wilderness because it will cost too much to repair three rail bridges damaged in the 2006 and 2007 floods at Kaaiman‘s Pass between Wilderness and George.

Initial estimates put the cost of repairing the line at R130-million.

According to the business plan, the George-Sedgefield line is more economically viable than the current route between George and Mossel Bay, which is running at a loss.

The trip, from the Transnet Museum in George to the Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay, was instituted after the floods made the trip between Sedgefield and George impossible.

The new plan envisages moving the Transnet Museum and train workshop to Sedgefield and possibly building an upmarket hotel at the station and a rotunda at Wilderness.

Although not part of the plan currently under discussion, a deal can eventually be made to repair the bridges between Wilderness and George if the business model grows and shows enough profit over time, or if talks with investors and other businesses in need of a rail service come to fruition.

From there, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe could in the years to come be extended to link the route to the George airport, Mossel Bay and inland to the Karoo.

A buy-in from property investors and tourism operators could see the Choo-Tjoe becoming the catalyst for tourism as it links into various tourist experiences, rather than just a ride on a steam train.

“As I understand it, a visitor could arrive at the George airport, take a Victorian steam train ride to his destination and later take the train to an overnight Karoo farm trip or an extreme adventure of some sort,” said Alan Winde, DA provincial legislature member for Knysna. “The train ride could be sold as part of a tourism package.”

The MPL said he had seen the initial proposal to run the train between Sedgefield and Wilderness and had discussed it with Strachan.