Spoornet cancels fully-booked trains
January 19 2007 at 02:59PM
A Cape Town tourism operator is fighting mad after Spoornet cancelled three charter trains it had fully booked with German tourists for 2007.
The cancellation of the trains, which were booked as long ago as 2005, would not only seriously damage his company but also make a huge dent in South Africa's image in Europe in the face of the 2010 World Cup, said Andreas Lappe, owner of Penguin Tours.
'There was no agreement that the train would continue this year'
The special Diamond of Africa charter trains, which Lappe has been running with partners for several years, may not run this year after Spoornet officials withdrew staff and locomotives. Spoornet managers told him they did not have enough locomotives or staff to run the three trains, Lappe said.
This was confirmed by Molatwane Likhethe of Spoornet, who said the parastatal had notified the operators as early as June last year of the discontinued services.
"There was no agreement that the train would continue this year," he said.
He said they were facing challenges that included limited resources and staff shortages.
Now Lappe has turned to Transnet chief Maria Ramos and Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk in a last-ditch attempt to get the trains rolling.
"Our first train is supposed to run on March 15. The tourists have their aircraft and accommodation booked and have paid," Lappe said.
He differed with Likhethe, however, on when notice was given.
"Spoornet told me in November that they would not be running the trains, but by then we had already done all our bookings. The charter trains are very popular with the tourists and many who book are repeat visitors and who spend a lot of money to come here; and also here in South Africa."
Lappe, a former German citizen who moved to South Africa 16 years ago, said visitors from Germany were already concerned over South Africa's real interests in providing proper tourism facilities and whether the country was really capable of hosting the 2010 World Cup.
"When something like this happens, they get an answer to their question that we should not be giving them," he said.
"I spent a lot of money upgrading the carriages I use, despite the fact that I knew that I was not going to have the carriages forever.
"The train of 10 carriages is standing in Johannesburg and my partner and I hold the keys because we fear break-ins, but there is no locomotive.
"Since they told us they did not have locomotives, they have put three trains of their own on the schedule," Lappe said.
"I think the real reason they are doing this is they want to own the charter business."
Lappe said another charter operator, Shongololo, would also not be able to run trains this year. Rovos Rail would be able to, because it had a 20-year contract with Spoornet.
"I hope Ms Ramos and Mr Van Schalkwyk act on this. Ramos has a great reputation for efficiency," he said. Read more
A Cape Town tourism operator is fighting mad after Spoornet cancelled three charter trains it had fully booked with German tourists for 2007.
The cancellation of the trains, which were booked as long ago as 2005, would not only seriously damage his company but also make a huge dent in South Africa's image in Europe in the face of the 2010 World Cup, said Andreas Lappe, owner of Penguin Tours.
'There was no agreement that the train would continue this year'
The special Diamond of Africa charter trains, which Lappe has been running with partners for several years, may not run this year after Spoornet officials withdrew staff and locomotives. Spoornet managers told him they did not have enough locomotives or staff to run the three trains, Lappe said.
This was confirmed by Molatwane Likhethe of Spoornet, who said the parastatal had notified the operators as early as June last year of the discontinued services.
"There was no agreement that the train would continue this year," he said.
He said they were facing challenges that included limited resources and staff shortages.
Now Lappe has turned to Transnet chief Maria Ramos and Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk in a last-ditch attempt to get the trains rolling.
"Our first train is supposed to run on March 15. The tourists have their aircraft and accommodation booked and have paid," Lappe said.
He differed with Likhethe, however, on when notice was given.
"Spoornet told me in November that they would not be running the trains, but by then we had already done all our bookings. The charter trains are very popular with the tourists and many who book are repeat visitors and who spend a lot of money to come here; and also here in South Africa."
Lappe, a former German citizen who moved to South Africa 16 years ago, said visitors from Germany were already concerned over South Africa's real interests in providing proper tourism facilities and whether the country was really capable of hosting the 2010 World Cup.
"When something like this happens, they get an answer to their question that we should not be giving them," he said.
"I spent a lot of money upgrading the carriages I use, despite the fact that I knew that I was not going to have the carriages forever.
"The train of 10 carriages is standing in Johannesburg and my partner and I hold the keys because we fear break-ins, but there is no locomotive.
"Since they told us they did not have locomotives, they have put three trains of their own on the schedule," Lappe said.
"I think the real reason they are doing this is they want to own the charter business."
Lappe said another charter operator, Shongololo, would also not be able to run trains this year. Rovos Rail would be able to, because it had a 20-year contract with Spoornet.
"I hope Ms Ramos and Mr Van Schalkwyk act on this. Ramos has a great reputation for efficiency," he said. Read more
posted by Jopie Fourie at 7:11 AM
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