Kingston Flyer veteran manager Russell Glendinning told the Otago Daily Times yesterday he and several other parties will be meeting LTNZ today to talk about regulations and that the issues that have held up the train's progress "look to have been resolved".
"Right now it is inconclusive, but things are looking positive and we should have more direction by the end of the week," Mr Glendinning said.
The historic railway was operated as a tourist attraction by Kingston Acquisitions Ltd (KAL), which went into receivership in November 2009 owing Prudential Mortgage $4.7 million.
Former engine driver, Mr Glendinning, said negotiations between Ashburton's Prudential finance company and Kingston Village Development Ltd had taken a step forward this week "I would lean towards saying some of the problems that were in place are now out of the way, but who knows with these people."
"I try to keep out of the politics of it all."
He said this morning's meeting should go some way to getting the train back on the rails.
"Once done, it will be one less hurdle to worry about."
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Prudential's George Jones said progress was "no further ahead at this stage" and "it's just a matter of keep trying".
Lindsay McClean, of Malloch McClean refused to comment, but said calling near the end of the week was advisable.
Chairman of Southern F locomotive Trusts Karl Barkley said he was told a driver from Timaru had sold his house in order to take the reigns, but has since been told there is no job to come to.
He said Mr Jones "has the ultimate say at the end of the day and he's trying to get rid of the covenant" - the covenant being that with Kingston Village Ltd.
The train enthusiast said with the tourist attraction's 40th birthday coming up in December the Trust would like to see it kept in local control, despite a large amount of interest coming from Allen Brown, of United States rail consortium Railmark.
"The main aim is to keep it in the hands of average Kiwis, so it doesn't become a financial football like it has in the past few years," Mr Barkley said.
Since the steam train was placed into receivership, the Flyer's heritage locomotives have sat idle in Kingston.
The asset portfolio includes passenger cars, a station, the tracks, a parcel of consented subdivision land and the Kingston Tavern, which closed at the end of May under the cloud of uncertainty due to ongoing receivership woes.
- Olivia.caldwell@alliedpress.co.nz
