Speculation is rife about would-be buyers of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train, SA’s steam heritage icon.
Ever since Transnet has called for expressions of interest with a view to selling, rumours have been abounding.
"The Western Cape Provincial Government has definitely no intention of bidding for the Choo-Tjoe. Private business can most certainly run the service more cheaply," said Tammy Evans, spokesperson for Allan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism this week.
She was commenting on a report in a daily provincial newspaper.
"Even Rowan Vos of Rovos Rail has been named as a possible buyer of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. But we have not had any such confirmation. Besides, Transnet is handling the transaction," said Evans.
"Minister Winde definitely pre-fers a South African buyer. Only as a last resort will a Private Public Partnership be considered."
Confidentiality
Transnet’s Helgardt Mouton, spokesperson for Pradeep Marahaj who is Transnet's Group Executive: Strategy and Transformation, said all parties sign a non-disclosure undertaking when they bid for the Choo-Tjoe.
"I am not at liberty to divulge whether there has been a lot of interest," said Mouton, adding: "Transnet has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance (PwC) as its financial advisor to assist with the disposal of the OCT service."
However, during the recent re-launching and resumption of the George to Mossel Bay service earlier this month, Winde made no secret of it that there is a large consortium interested in buying the train and its rolling stock.
Transnet is disposing of "non-core" services like the steam train service. Their resolve hardened after spending millions in repairs, following the severe storms in the Southern Cape in 2006 which caused extensive damage to the George-Knysna railway line, resulting in rail operations being discontinued.
The Choo-Tjoe is now operating between the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George and the Diaz Museum complex in Mossel Bay.
The assets used in the ope-ration of the service include steam locomotives, carriages, spare parts, supporting equipment and infrastructure which form part of the sale. It is envisaged that initially the use of the assets will be transferred to the successful private party on a lease-lend basis.
Ultimately, subject to heritage legislation and authorisation, full ownership of the assets would be transferred to the private party.
Interested parties may obtain an information pack from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Contact Ms Hombisa Mbokotho on +27 11 797 5915 or send an e-mail to: hombisa.mbokotho@za.pwc.com. Responses to the EOI must be submitted in the required format electronically before 09:00 Tuesday, 1 December 2009.
The Chooo-Tjoe initially started operating between George and Knysna on a line that was officially opened in 1928.
