The Rail and Maritime Union encouraged the Dunedin City Council this week to add its weight to suggestions council-owned Dunedin Railways should at least be allowed a fair shot at making its case.
The site near the Oval appeared to be a fairly good fit for what the council’s company needed, union member Dave Kearns said.
A lease arrangement seemed a good option, he said.
KiwiRail had vacated the Cumberland St locomotive and wagon depot and consolidated operations at its rebuilt Hillside site, the union highlighted in a letter to Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich.
The seemed to present an obvious opportunity for Dunedin Railways to return to a site it had previously leased, but the union said "certain senior managers" from KiwiRail were apparently not keen.
For Dunedin Railways, setting up in Cumberland St would replace a temporary arrangement beside the Dunedin Railway Station.
Asked what the future might be for the Cumberland St depot, a KiwiRail spokeswoman said no decisions had been made regarding leases.
"KiwiRail can confirm it is having confidential discussions with Dunedin Railways, including about our plans for this site, which is in poor condition," she said.
"Any leasing transactions are commercially sensitive."
Dunedin Railways general manager Rebekah Jenkins said KiwiRail was an important commercial partner.
"We look forward to continuing discussions on future opportunities."
