Apple Express races to get on track for season

[caption id="attachment_229103" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plans are afoot to get the Apple Express up and running again as a tourism drawcard for Nelson Mandela Bay[/caption]

Plan to repair rail lines for rolling out of pilot phase

Repairs to rail lines needed to get Nelson Mandela Bay’s iconic Apple Express back on track for the December festive season are set to begin – but it is a race against time to secure funding.

Qaba said the cost of infrastructure repairs of the line for phase one was R2.1-million and had been budgeted for by the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA).

 

“The project is part of the Baakens Valley precinct development node driven and budgeted for by the [MBDA], and the municipality is currently finalising plans to unlock the funds through relevant processes, including final resolution by the MBDA board,” Qaba said.

Asefovitz said the biggest challenge in operating the locomotive was fixing the line that would allow “the narrow-gauge heritage rolling stock being operated for tourists”.

Asefovitz said only one of the steam locomotives was operational, while a second – which would be used as back-up – was being restored. He said 12 of the 19 carriages were in good condition.

Qaba said other phases would be budgeted for during the mid-year budget adjustments in the new financial year.