South Africa | The Iconic Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Steam Train on Track to Return as a Garden Route Tourism Attraction After Almost Two Decades

South Africa’s iconic steam train, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is on track to return as a Garden Route tourism attractions after almost two decades following confirmation of funding and contracts by Classic Rail and CEO Alan McVitty.

The line completed in 1928 out of operation for nearly 20 years was the last remaining continually - operated passenger steam train in Africa, ending operation in August 2006. Originally the line on which the train operated linked the city of George situated halfway between Cape Town and Gqebertha and Knysna, a coastal town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. 

This scenic route of approximately 67 kilometres offered travellers a unique opportunity to admire the rugged coastline of the iconic Garden Route, a scenic 300 kilometres stretch of the south - eastern coast of South Africa which extends from Witsand in the Western Cape Province to the border of Tsitsikamma Storms River in the Eastern Cape.

This unique itinerary passed through areas including Victoria Bay, the Kaaimans River Bridge, Wilderness, Sedgefield, and Goukamma showcasing the stunning verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation encountered in this territory of South Africa and the numerous estuaries and lakes dotted along the coast. 

The line will be rebuild in two stages, first from Knysna to Sedgerfield, a coastal town in the Western Cape Cape Province of South Africa situated on the N2 national road, then extending to George, with restoration and redevelopment expected to begin shortly. 

Refurbishment plans include locomotive repairs in Gauteng, carriage overhauls in George, and the establishment of a steam workshop along the route.

Stakeholder coordination with local businesses and the Transnet Freight forms a key part of the project’s collaborative model, with updates to be shared via official online platforms. 

While it is too early for bookings, the initiative promises significant tourism and employment benefits for the region and a great revival of a train service that carried 115.000 passengers per year by the early 2000s.

Link  

https://atta.travel/resource/outeniqua-choo-tjoe-set-for-revival-after-almost-two-decades.html