Please find Choo-Tjoe News Edition 8 attached.
I would like to invite you to follow MEC Alan Winde on Twitter. From there, you can view live news on his portfolio:
http://twitter.com/alanwinde
Best wishes for a wonderful year,
Tammy
Choo-Tjoe News
Edition 8 – 18 January 2010
NEW YEAR NEWS
This week spelled the return to work for most of us, and the Minister would like to take this opportunity to wish you the very best for 2010.
At the Ministry, we are hoping that 2010 will be the year that the Choo-Tjoe receives a new owner, and is given the chance to cement its iconic status. It is also the year that South Africa hosts the World Cup, and we are confident that the Choo-Tjoe will form part of our visitors’ tourism experience.
Transnet has prioritized the sale of the Choo-Tjoe’s operations between George and Mossel Bay, and assures us that they will communicate with us as soon as any milestones are reached. We will, in turn, be in touch with you.
I am pleased to report that over a two week period during the December holidays, the Choo-Tjoe was almost fully booked out. This is particularly remarkable since its usual thrice weekly timetable was doubled to accommodate holidaymakers.
The majority of travelers on the Choo-Tjoe were South African, which may indicate renewed enthusiasm for heritage rail in our country.
Foreign visitors to the Choo-Tjoe provided positive feedback of their experience, with many comparing the Choo-Tjoe transport museum to the York Transport Museum, an industry leader. It is our hope that the positive experiences these travelers had will be communicated to their countrymen back home, and will encourage further visitor.
It’s not too late to take your trip on the Choo-Tjoe, and we would like to encourage locals and foreigners alike to take advantage of the beautiful weather and hop on board.
Lastly, if you took a ride on the Choo-Tjoe this holiday, we would love to hear from you – all comments welcome!
NOTE: Concerns have been expressed that the sleepers at the Wilderness station are being lifted. They are in fact in place, but covered by sand at present.
