Attention is now turning to ways to secure the Dunedin Railways service. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Retaining a train service through the Taieri Gorge will preserve a high-volume anchor product in the Dunedin visitor industry, the city council says.
It also keeps the door open for train trips from Middlemarch, perhaps involving the Project Steam locomotive restoration group.
The group is interested in gaining access to the tracks between Middlemarch and Sutton and possibly further, to Pukerangi.
The Dunedin City Council decided at the end of January to retain a train service through the Taieri Gorge, but did not immediately release the breakdown of a vote that happened in the public-excluded part of a council meeting.
A confidential report was prepared for that meeting.
The Otago Daily Times made inquiries about these subjects six times in the past month — following up on the meeting and a subsequent media release, and requesting information through the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act — before the council released more information on its website yesterday.
The vote to approve retention of a train service through the gorge was passed 13-2.
Crs Lee Vandervis and Brent Weatherall voted against.
Council staff will provide updates about ways train services and track maintenance might be structured in time for the council’s 2024-34 long-term term.
Parts of the confidential report were released yesterday.
It included reference to a product development review commissioned by Enterprise Dunedin in March last year.
History, heritage, accessible outdoors and wildlife were noted as important reasons to visit Dunedin.
The review noted new products could be developed in relation to Dunedin Railways and there were opportunities for private sector operators.
Dunedin Railways, which is owned by the council, was put into hibernation when passenger numbers collapsed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Train services have since been revived and the return of cruise ships this summer provided more passengers for trains again.
A section of the report about track maintenance, historically a problem in providing a viable train service, was redacted.
Enterprise Dunedin manager John Christie said attention was now turning to the best ways to secure and enhance the Dunedin Railways service.
"Our commitment is to find a business model that is best placed to secure the future of Dunedin Railways, and the Taieri Gorge trip, in particular, while enhancing what both offer to our community and visitors," Mr Christie said.
"Dunedin Railways and the Taieri Gorge trip are key parts of Dunedin’s tourist appeal and we want to make sure both are positioned to succeed."
