The Dunedin City Council is putting pedestrian access to Forsyth Barr Stadium in place as a priority, before any move to add a potential rail platform to cater for passenger trains.
DCC transport operations project manager Evan Matheson said a railway platform near the stadium had been considered as part of overall transport and access plans for the facility.
"There is interest in using a rail facility, but the closest we've got is investigating options for a platform [siding] opposite the stadium," he said.
Pedestrian issues needed to be addressed first to ensure there was safe access from the existing railway line and across the recently completed State Highway 88, Mr Matheson said.
An overbridge option had been considered, while other possibilities included utilising an existing pedestrian and cycleway underpass alongside the SH88 bridge across the Water of Leith.
Discussions were being held with landowners on the southern side of the Water of Leith about providing an access way for pedestrians to link with the harbourside area around Wickliffe, Fryatt and Jutland Sts, Mr Matheson said.
Those streets catered for about 2000 "after working hours" car parks and funding for pedestrian and cycleway links to the stadium were available as part of the overall SH88 construction costs, he said.
Dunedin-based KiwiRail southern service manager Neil Campbell said the establishment of a safe rail facility near the new stadium had been an option, since the early stages of the development.
There was a potential to put a rail platform on an "industrial siding", which runs from the Dunedin Railway Station through to near the stadium enabling the main railway line to Port Chalmers to remain in use for freight.
KiwiRail had not looked into any potential costings for such a project and any further work would need to be in full consultation with the Dunedin City Council, Mr Campbell said.
