Choo Tjoe’s return must be applauded – Alan Winde
26. Oct, 2009
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Watch Minister Winde’s Speech – with footage of the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe on the George-Mossel Bay Line.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe has returned to service after a three-month layoff for maintenance – and in a gesture of support for what he called a “tourism icon,” Western Cape Tourism Minister Alan Winde made a point of paying for his ticket (and challenging all his guests to do the same) when he travelled on the train from George to Mossel Bay on Monday.
Speaking before his departure, Minister Winde said that, “There were those sceptics who thought this train had puffed its last puff, but it hasn’t, and today is a celebration of a special tourism moment.”
The Minister thanked Transnet, the owners of the line, because, he said, “We understand that they’ve got much bigger fish to fry with their focus on key areas of transport, and we thank them for thinking about us in the Southern Cape, and for making sure that we preserve this bit of our heritage.
He said he hope that the Choo Tjoe would continue to run hung heavy in the Garden Route.
“Even when the train was thought to be doomed, you saw the signboards up and down this coastline: it’s been some years now since the Knysna-George line was run, but when you drive through Sedgefield or Knysna, the signs are still there – because people are hanging on to the hope that we’ll get this train back on track across the entire region.
“I see today as the first step towards that goal.”
He said that icons were the things that make the region unique, and that he had committed himself to them.
“One of the big problems across our province is the threat to our icons. Robben Island, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, the Oysters in Knysna, the Cango Caves are all under pressure.”
Minister Winde said that the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe was unique because “you go from inside a museum, to riding on a museum, and back into a museum.” But, he said, he wanted to pay for his ticket on Monday’s outing because, “There’s no such thing as a free ride.
“We’ve all got to make sure that this train works. And therefore I’ll pay for my ticket today, and I challenge each of my guests to do the same, and that challenge goes out to every single tourist who’s going to come and take part, too.
“We’ve all got to make sure that we make this train a success. We’ve all got to make sure that we invest in its future.”
He said that he would also be committing marketing to the project through the Provincial marketing Body, CTRU.
Minister Winde said that Transnet had committed to the next phase in the development of the project and that it would soon begin calling for expressions of interest in the search for private investors.
He said that the continued existence of the train was of concern to people all around the world, and that the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe had, “Hit the headlines in newspapers in the UK and in Germany” three days after a recent announcement about the public participation process.
“That shows you the kind of interest that steam has around the world, and we have to harness that passion.”
He said that he would visit steam train attractions in the UK during his forthcoming trip to the World Travel Market so that he could bring back and share whatever he could learn there, “Because we need to do whatever’s necessary to make sure that we grow and preserve the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe as a sustainable icon.”
Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm said that the town was deeply indebted to Transnet for its commitment to the preservation of the service. “When you see those carriages packed with visitors you realise how popular steam train rides still are – and Mossel Bay Tourism will continue to throw as many resources as we can to make sure that the train remains at the top of the tourists’ minds for years to come.”
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe will now run between George and Mossel Bay on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with a daily service (except Sundays and Christmas Day) during the summer season. Tickets are available at Mossel Bay Tourism – +27(0)44 691 2202 – and from the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George – +27(0)44 801 8289.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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