Katherine Wilkinson GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT
THE commercial future of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, the Garden Route‘s iconic steam train, came a step closer to being decided yesterday when Western Cape government-appointed consultants handed over their report.
The tourist train service between Knysna and George has been out of commission since 2006 when floods caused rockfalls and landslides that damaged the rail line at Kaaiman‘s Pass. The line was damaged further by floods a year later.
The contents of the report by Arcus Gibb/Grant Thornton have not been divulged, but two business plan scenarios were focused on the route from George to Knysna and George to Mossel Bay.
The train is currently running between George and Mossel Bay.
The various roleplayers will meet in George tomorrow afternoon to discuss the report, which follows months of investigation, workshops and research.
“We are having the Outeniqua Choo- Tjoe steering committee meeting on Friday and thereafter a media release will be sent out,” said provincial tourism chief director Labeeqah Schuurman yesterday.
Owned by Transnet, the Choo-Tjoe is not considered part of its core business and initial estimates to repair the damaged line and overhaul the coaches have been put at around R100-million.
If no viable business plan to reinstate the steam train between George and Knysna is forthcoming, an alternative plan to create a so-called “rail trail” along the scenic route is one of the ideas that has received some attention.
Thousands of disused railway lines in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and elsewhere have been converted into rail trails.
Proponents of this idea maintain that the natural beauty of the area can be enjoyed while still benefiting the tourism and related industries.
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