The train was part of the national Walk to Work initiative, which encouraged people to leave their cars at home and walk or take a train or bus to work or school.
Taieri Gorge Railway ran trains to and from Waitati and Mosgiel yesterday as part of the event.
The Waitati train was nearly full, with 208 passengers, but the Mosgiel train had only 27.
Dunedin City Council safe and sustainable travel co-ordinator Charlotte Flaherty said she was amazed at the numbers of people who walked to work.
"There is a phenomenal amount. I had no idea the high percentage who walk to work."
Preliminary results showed about 395 people who had registered to walk to work stopped in the Octagon, and 230 stopped at the Museum Reserve, she said.
Three people had walked to the city from Port Chalmers.
She believed the low numbers of passengers on the Mosgiel train was because of the 5pm departure time.
Taieri Gorge Railway chief executive Murray Bond said the Waitati train ran about 15 minutes late because a freight train needed to go through, and demand meant longer stops, especially at Michies Crossing, Purakaunui and Mihiwaka.
Waitati resident Nicki Clarke said her children were worried about being late for school, but the train being late was a "good excuse" which did not happen every day.
Other train passengers were not worried about the late arrival, instead making the most of the trip - which Chris Holdsworth, of Waitati, described as "relaxing, with great views".
Lucy Jack, of Waitati, said one of the great things about trains was being able to read, and Warrington residents Toni and Pamela Atkinson, who drove to Waitati to take the train, enjoyed the experience.
"We wish it happen[ed] every day," Toni said.
Mr Bond said the success of the Waitati trip meant the company would look at running some school holiday trips north.
However, there was little chance of it becoming a regular service because of a lack of local and central government funding.
