Inspections included drilling of bridge wooden components to test for decay and close-up film recording of structures under load pressure, the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board was told yesterday.
More than 1000 sleepers had been replaced on the line in various strengthening upgrades, Dunedin Railways general manager Rebekah Jenkins said.
"We are entirely satisfied that the track is safe and ready to resume passenger services through to Pukerangi following significant work to assess and upgrade infrastructure in recent years."
Dunedin Railways was put into hibernation when Covid-19 had a drastic effect on visitor numbers and limited services have since been run between Dunedin and Hindon.
The Dunedin City Council has yet to settle on a permanent model for train services that could run again to Middlemarch and a multimillion-dollar bill for track maintenance and improvements would have to be faced.
The picture is expected to be cleared up next year when the council’s 2025-34 long-term plan is adopted but, in the meantime, October 5 has been set as the date for a return to Pukerangi.
A Taieri Gorge service has not run to Pukerangi since 2020.
Ms Jenkins, Dunedin Railways health, safety and training manager Donald Ross and DCL Consulting managing director Dave Charters responded to a series of questions from the community board during an extended public forum segment.
The questions came mostly from board chairman Andrew Simms, who explored the scope and urgency of work that needed to be done and cost expectations.
He also highlighted differences between DCL Consulting’s assessment and 2022 assessments from Holmes and Vitruvius.
Work described as urgent was not given the same level of urgency by DCL Consulting, Mr Simms observed.
Mr Charters said inspections by the other two firms were based on visual assessments and his company took a more detailed look.
He also said hardwood tended to weather badly at the surface and sleepers could often be in much better condition than they appeared to be.
Mr Simms said he had been able to break a sleeper from the line with his bare hands.
Mr Ross said having some sleepers that failed was acceptable and a replacement programme was ongoing.
Mr Simms drew attention to vastly different estimates between Dunedin Railways and Holmes relating to painting of bridges.
Ms Jenkins said Dunedin Railways intended to provide updated costings for the council next year.
