An influx of international visitors next year is predicted for Oamaru if the proposed regular passenger rail link between the town and Dunedin goes ahead.
Following discussions between Tourism Waitaki and the Taieri Gorge Railway, a trial run of a proposed rail route will take place on November 25. Tourism Waitaki chairwoman Annabel Berry said if it were successful, it could lead to a regular service.
Mrs Berry said if Taieri Gorge Railway was convinced there was a viable market demand from the Dunedin end, an extended link, which could provide "numerous" benefits to Oamaru, could be in place next year.
"We are hopeful that if this trial is a success, there will be other opportunities in the future, including weekend and overnight train trips.
"Obviously, it will open up direct links between Oamaru and Dunedin. It will give tourists coming into Dunedin another activity to come to our district.
"In terms of that, it is a really great opportunity for us to open up some more international tourism links.
"Obviously, a lot of tourists fly into Dunedin. It's one of our biggest airports, so that's all really positive," Mrs Berry said.
The test run would see a train leave Dunedin at 8am and arrive in Oamaru at 10.15am, in time for people to visit the Oamaru Farmers' Market, tour the Victorian precinct and visit the Blue Penguin Colony, she said.
Oamaru residents would then be given the chance to experience the train for a lunchtime trip to Palmerston, before the return train to Dunedin departed Oamaru at 3.15pm.
Ticket prices were yet to be confirmed, but she urged locals to get on board.
"We hope that Oamaru residents will get behind this unique opportunity to explore our district as well as welcome those Dunedin residents and tourists that will be arriving that Sunday."
Taieri Gorge Railway operations manager Grant Craig said if the link were established, it would be the first time a regular passenger service had run between the two towns since 2002.
"We run regularly up there with Oamaru [Victorian] Fete trains and special occasions, but this is the first time we will be taking the railcar through to Oamaru."
Mr Craig said the train would be able to hold 94 passengers.
