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THE Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe was thrown a lifeline yesterday – but only for three months while plans are considered to save the popular tourist attraction.
Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Garth Strachan assured staff yesterday that the steam train would be kept running until the end of June.
The Transnet Heritage Museum in George, which operates the iconic steam engine, was threatened with closure at the end of this month until Strachan stepped in. He initiated high-level talks to keep operations going for three more months while a committee tasked with finding ways to save the Choo- Tjoe completed its report.
Earlier this week, staff morale was at an all-time low.
However, Nichol Marais, the owner of a scenic rail experience in motorised rail cars from the museum, said yesterday it wasn‘t only the staff, but that the whole tourism industry was disappointed with the slow progress being made in deciding the Choo-Tjoe‘s fate.
Strachan said the uncertainty was regrettable and he sympathised with the workers. His department was doing everything possible to save the Choo-Tjoe.
“At the moment, the George to Mossel Bay train costs R800000 a month to run, this is not a small amount and that is why we got a private company in to assess the (various) recommendations,” he said, referring to recommendations by a steering committee looking at ways of saving the Choo-Tjoe.
The train used to run between Knysna and George but the route was changed to George–Mossel Bay after the rail line was damaged near Wilderness in the 2006-07 floods.
Strachan said with the economic recession, government did not want to cause job losses.
“The report is on my table and, in due course, we will make a decision which will be in the best interests of tourism and the Southern Cape.”
One proposal is for a shorter run between Knysna and Wilderness, as it is too costly at present to repair the three flood-damaged rail bridges between Wilderness and George.
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