State of the Choo Tjoe line September 2022

RFP for the operation of the George-Knysna line

In late 2021, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), the owner of the George-Knysna line, put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) from the private sector for the restoration and operation of the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe on the line. This tender closed on 19 April 2022. Two companies submitted bids. As one of these bidders, The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe (Pty) Ltd assembled a team of track repair contractors, bridge engineers, hydrologists, steam and carriage restoration specialists, tourism specialists, and tourism journalists (amongst others). Most of the members of this team were also members of the recently-completed Kruger Shalati Train Hotel on the Bridge at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.

Mossel Bay Train

The Mosel Bay Steam Train that ran on Heritage Day (24 September, 2022) was a project of Transnet Engineering (TE), and not of TFR. The train was hauled by a privately-owned locomotive, and it is our understanding that this was a once-off event.

Tender announcement

We look forward to TFR's announcement of the successful bidder for the operation of the Outeniqua Choo on the George-Knysna Line, and trust that this will happen very soon. We will keep you posted.

CEO Alan McVitty, 26 September 2022.