Choo, choo! Nelson Mandela Bay approves bid to bring back the Apple Express

A move to resuscitate Gqeberha’s beloved Apple Express train is on the cards, promising tourists to the Nelson Mandela Bay metro a scenic trip along the Garden Route.

A favourite of locals and tourists alike, the train ran along the Avontuur Railway, a narrow-gauge line that transported apples and other goods from the Langkloof to Port Elizabeth — giving the train its name.

The train crossed the Van Stadens Railway Bridge, which rises about 77m above a gorge and is often cited as the highest narrow-gauge railway bridge in South Africa — and among the highest worldwide.

The heritage tourist service known as the Apple Express began in 1965, after the line’s freight traffic had dwindled. It was halted in 2011 due to legal and financial conflicts between the city and Transnet, which hindered the city’s ability to allocate the funds needed for the project’s restoration.

The revival project will be conducted through a public/private partnership (PPP) between the metro and Southern Cross Africa.

According to a report tabled on Friday by Wandisile Makwabe, the acting executive director of the metro’s economic development, tourism and agriculture directorate (EDTA), the city plans to establish a heritage rail-based tourism experience integrated into the cruise-ship itinerary.

International marketing

“The implementation of the Apple Express revival project will be guided by a PPP model. This partnership will enable shared investment, coordinated governance and efficient operational management as Southern Cross Africa brings established experience in tourism development, trade packaging and international marketing, ensuring that the train is positioned competitively within global travel networks,” said Makwabe.

He said the Apple Express offered scalability and adaptability, with each journey accommodating between 50 and 200 passengers, which meets the capacity requirements of the cruise-ship and group travel markets.

“In alignment with the cruise-line strategy, the Apple Express will strengthen the municipality’s positioning as a key cruise destination by offering an exclusive, heritage-based excursion experience,” said Makwabe.

“It can also enhance the onboard offering for cruise passengers through pre-arrival and in-transit cultural programming, creating continuity between the onshore and onboard experience. This alignment will encourage repeat visits and elevate the city’s brand visibility in the global cruise market.”

Cultural corridor

Makwabe said the project would act as a cultural corridor and boost the city’s economy, linking the arts, heritage and community tourism sectors.

At each station, local artists, crafters and performers can showcase their talents and products, transforming the line into a travelling exhibition of the Bay’s creative and cultural identity.

“This directly addresses the call for developing indigenous storytelling, creating support mechanisms for local crafters, and forming partnerships with community tourism forums to sustain heritage sites,” said Makwabe.

The item was approved in principle, with a feasibility study yet to be conducted.

Southern Cross Africa CEO Anton Barkhuizen presented the project to the EDTA committee, and it received positive feedback from councillors.

Barkhuizen said they planned to offer a five-star premium rail experience.

“Reviving the Apple Express train as a tourist experience on the narrow-gauge railway is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding endeavour,” he said.

“It has the potential to become one of the most unique showcase projects within the Cape provinces, linking the Eastern and Western Cape in a distinct and meaningful way. This initiative could pave the path for sustainable economic growth and foster seamless connectivity between these regions.”

Barkhuizen said they planned to target the international tourism market, which the previous managers of the train had failed to do.

“What the Apple Express needs is a large monthly passenger loading, and will only get there from the boost of overseas tourism.”

ANC councillor Sicelo Mleve said while he supported revitalisation of the train, it would be best for the operators to include the eastern side of the province rather than only the Garden Route.

“Why is it that you only focus on the Garden Route, which always gets attention from tourists and not seek to promote the other side of the province that has a lot that still needs to be explored and promoted?”

Responding to Mleve, Barkhuizen said the train had previously been run by the government, and there had been talks between the municipalities in the Garden Route.

DA councillor Terri Stander said, “The neighbouring municipalities and Prasa will support and do their bit. However, I do take on board what Councillor Mleve said about why we are only going west. Is there a way that we can link the east into the Apple Express?

“Prasa has made a presentation to me that they are going to upgrade the train stations in wards 5 and 15. We need to consider how we integrate that upgrade to link with this proposal.”

Ticking the legislative boxes

DA councillor Masixole Zinto raised concerns about whether the project would be subjected to processes that would allow others to express their intention to operate the train.

“We have been warned about this by the National Treasury, and I would want us to move with this project having ticked all the legislative boxes.

“We need to have it on record why we have given the project specifically to this entity; what fair processes have we done before awarding this project?”

Makwabe said the Treasury wanted the city to engage in procurement processes in all the work it did.

“And this is exactly what we are going to do,” he said.

“The project will be implemented in line with the municipal legislative and policy requirements, which include being subjected to supply chain management processes.” DM