It is hoped the visits will lead to Dunedin industry getting some subcontracted work for the build.
The four companies vying for the contract to build 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 electric locomotives for the Auckland railway network are Hitachi Ltd (Japan), Hyundai Rotem Company (Korea), Bombardier Transportation Australia Pty Ltd (Australia) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles and Mitsubishi Corporation (Spain and New Zealand).
Representatives from all but Hitachi have expressed interest in visiting Dunedin to see the city's experience and capability in train building.
The expressions of interest are in response to letters sent to the companies by Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie.
A working group of government, Dunedin City Council and Dunedin business representatives, established to win some of the construction work on the $500 million tender, were buoyed by the response.
Mr Christie said it had been a long and complicated process, and he was pleased about the way the city had come together to achieve the positive response from the tenderers.
"We've achieved as much as we would have hoped to achieve at this stage.
"We're still hoping for a good result for all concerned. It's exciting to see it start to come to fruition. I think today is a good day."
Farra Engineering chief executive John Whitaker agreed.
"We've just got to try and nail these guys when they come down here. We're excited by the opportunity."
While Hitachi Ltd had not yet responded to the invitation to visit Dunedin, Mr Christie was confident they would also accept the offer.
He said KiwiRail was expected to release its Request for Tender - a list of specifications for the train build - within the next week.
Within it, information about Dunedin's and New Zealand's train building capabilities will be presented.
