URGENT FROM FRIENDS OF THE OUTENIQUA CHOO-TJOE

[John Ashworth]

URGENT FROM FRIENDS OF THE CHOO-TJOE

We are appealing to all our members and wellwishers to respond to the attached poll. The closing date is Mon 23rd April. We need every vote to show that people really care about the future of the Choo-Tjoe. So please pass it on to all your friends

Kind regards,

Colin Jenkins. FCT Committee.

NEWSFLASH

Urgent Urgent

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE RETURN OF THE OUTENIQUA CHOO-TJOE!

The George Herald is currently running a Poll on their website to gauge public
opinion on the reopening of the scenic and world renowned George to Knysna
railway line and the return of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe.

This is a chance to make your voice heard, add weight to the strong lobby supporting
the reopening of the line, and demonstrate to the relevant authorities that this
support exists.

Attempts to have the line reopened and discussions with Transnet concerning
the future of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe have been on-going for a number of
years with little progress. It was recently reported that the Western Cape
Minister of Economic Development and Tourism seems to be on the verge of
giving up hope to save this tourism icon. Many residents and tourism groups
lobby for the repair of the railway line that was damaged during the 2006
floods; with a small group of others supporting the concept of conversion of
the rail corridor into a cycle track. What do you think?

• Losing the Choo-Tjoe is unthinkable - I'll join all efforts to save it; or
• The Choo-Tjoe is a lost case - let's transform the railway line into a safe cycle
track.

Follow the link to the George Herald website home page
http://www.georgeherald.com/ and register your vote NOW

Scroll down the webpage until you come to "Voting Poll", then highlight the box
indicating your support, the Railway

This is a wonderful chance to show the level of support that there is for the return of
the Iconic Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. Please vote, and ask your friends to show
their support as well by voting. Let’s join together and clearly demonstrate that
the existing infrastructure must be brought back to life and not lost to future
generations THIS IS PART OF OUR HERTITAGE DON’T THROW IT AWAY

Thank you in anticipation for your support, past and in the future.

Also attached

[Steve Appleton]

From Business Day, 30 April 2012 http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/C ... ?id=170654

Choo-Tjoe revival not an option without R150m on table — Transnet.
Transnet insists someone else will have to come up with the R150m required to repair the flood-damaged rail infrastructure of the iconic Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train.

NEIL OELOFSE
Published: 2012/04/30 07:23:22 AM

DESPITE the often sentimental clamour for the restoration of the iconic Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train on the Garden Route, owner Transnet last week insisted someone else would have to come up with the R150m required to repair the flood-damaged rail infrastructure.

Before the floods of 2006, the Choo-Tjoe attracted up to 150 000 rail enthusiasts to the Garden Route from around the world every year, generating about R10m a year in ticket sales alone and tens of millions more in general tourist revenue. The service was brought to an abrupt halt when the railway line was severely damaged by massive land slips, mainly in the Kaaiman s Pass region at Wilderness.

"Transnet does not have the R150m required to put the Choo-Tjoe back on track, but we will listen to anyone who is prepared to put up the money," Transnet CEO Brian Molefe said last week.

Mr Molefe poured cold water on the hopes of Western Cape finance and tourism MEC Alan Winde, and those of the Garden Route Cycleway Association, who have expressed different hopes for the dormant railway line and hope that Transnet would sign over the property and infrastructure.

"The Choo-Tjoe rail reserve belongs to Transnet," Mr Molefe said. "We have not considered alienating the railway land and we have no plans to do so yet. The only thing that could change is if someone brought R150m to the table. Then we could talk."

The Transnet boss said he was a supporter of preserving SA’s railway heritage, hence the parastatal’s continued support of rail museums in George and Mossel Bay, but money was a big factor in the case of the Choo-Tjoe.

"The real problem is the financial viability of the project. There is no guarantee that the considerable investment required will eventually be covered by the potential returns."

The steam engine was trapped on the George side of Kaaimans after the floods, and although Transnet continued the service to Mossel Bay and back, the Choo-Tjoe had lost a large portion of its appeal and was terminated about a year ago.

Mr Winde has long been a champion for the Choo-Tjoe’s restoration to its former glory, but he recently said he was losing hope because of Transnet’s long silence — which was despite an earlier decision in principle to transfer the steam engine, coaches and railway line to the Western Cape government. He vowed to keep trying to save "this valuable tourism asset".

Mr Molefe did not express any enthusiasm for the Garden Route Cycleway Association’s desire to convert the railway track into a cycle route. "If anything, we hope to find a rail-related use for the infrastructure in the future," he said.