I wonder how many of you have ever been to Touwsriver? For many years it was a bubbling town with many steam trains travelling back and forth through this Little Karoo Town. We were pleasantly surprised to see how they are trying to get back on their feet again. Such a pity that things like this
happen without thinking of what will happen in the future.
A while back we returned from an amazing Marketing visit to Touwsriver in the Western Cape, on Route N1, a 2 hour’s drive north from Cape Town. We were 5 ladies and 2 Gentlemen who were photographers, bloggers, twitters, and Marketers visiting this small country town, somehow forgotten by many South Africans.
Approximately 25 years ago, the large shunting yard and train centre closed down due to the stopping of the Steam Trains in South Africa. Nearly half the locals living in Touwsriver were employed by the Government Railway, if not more. When this large employment centre closed down, many people were left unemployed, forcing a large school to also close its doors and now stands empty and deserted as many people have left the town to go and find work somewhere else. The local Railway Station which had been running since early 1936, was not used and has been so badly vandalized since 2012. Great attempts are being made to try and restore the station back to its old glory, and have visitors staying over for 2 or more days in the old Hotel next to the Station which was also vandalized. Touwsriver used to be the biggest Steam Train Depot in the Western Cape. Luckily one of the old Steam Train Engines has been put to rest in the Gideon Joubert Park , which represents the History of the town and is still a great Tourist attraction. Luckily many other people have started new businesses in the town and also outside Touwsriver as you will read further below.
The Vandalized Railway Station
The Last Steam Train
The Marketing Team
CTE. Commuter Transport Engineering has a policy that is to achieve sustained, profitable growth by refurbishing, repairing, manufacturing and delivering products that satisfy customers’ specified and accepted standards of workmanship, performance and reliability. This company was started in 1998 by Patricia Norris who is the CEO. Their aim is to build a solid honest, foundation in the forgotten community of Touwsriver. She looked past the neglect and desolation of this abandoned old rail town and saw hope and a greater purpose for CTE, who were able to not only change the South African rail industry but change lives. As the South African Rail industry makes the essential and exciting leap forward into the future, CTE will have the responsibility of the greater community across the nation of making rail a safe, reliable and affordable form of public transport and to empower and transform the individuals of South Africa and it starts with them. CTE has a vision to contribute to planning, creating and realizing that future through nurturing the skills and talents of its people and building the capacity to grow and develop with the industry as a whole. Their primary aim is the refurbishing commuter rail coaches, which has enjoyed considerable success in the rail industry. It was absolutely amazing to see what they have done with the old coaches that have been delivered and what they look like when going out. Everybody was working, learning, enjoying what they were doing amongst all the coaches, some on wheels, wheels without coaches on top, some being built with steel, others putting in windows etc, etc. From the General Manger Ian Watson who took us on the Tour and gave us a very informative talk to Nwabisa Ntiyane, their Managing Director who showed us what they are busy with and what they proposed to do in the future, we were most impressed. They should all be very proud of their achievements and so should the community who are also working very hard. www.cte.co.za
It is such a pity that many large businesses had to close their doors due to the situation here inour country, with many hard working people having to lose their jobs. At least Touwsriver is assisting the locals to get back on their feet again. It is sad that it is not happening around other small towns and villages where they might also be able to make a difference.
