32 | T T Russell Fredric All aboard to see Otago’s hidden gems Dunedin Railway Station REGIONAL Dunedin Railway Station is anticipating a busy summer on its Taieri Gorge train following a strong 2025-26 season. Marketing and partnerships manager Brydie Meinung says the previous summer remained busy into March and April, complemented by strong cruise numbers and good winter sales pointing to a positive outlook for the upcoming season. Winter services have been running consistently three days a week on a reduced seasonal schedule. We’ve had some really awesome numbers come through for forward booking, so the months to come are looking really strong from the bookings that have come through over the winter.” This optimism follows the business’s return from a five-year Covid-related hiatus. A major focus since reopening has been rebuilding awareness and reconnecting with the tourism trade. Social media has become one of its strongest marketing channels, while the business is also looking to work with influencers and content creators. “We’ve been doing a lot more investment into our marketing after being in hibernation and getting our name out there again and making sure that people know that we’re up and running and it’s business as usual.” Tour groups are also rearranging itineraries to include The Taieri Gorge train after Dunedin Railway Station spent two years reconnecting at tourism trade events. The summer schedule will run five to seven days a week through much of the peak period, with additional trains for tour groups when required. The flagship Taieri Gorge train travels from Dunedin to Pukerangi, Otago, through dramatic landscapes and historic railway infrastructure. Feedback from passengers has been consistently strong, with the combination of scenery, heritage and the character of the old carriages contributing to the appeal. “People absolutely love it.” The new season will add another dimension, with an open-air viewing carriage planned. his investment follows the business’s return from hiatus, during which only a skeleton crew remained in place and maintenance activity across the carriages and locomotives was necessarily limited. Dunedin Railway Station is increasingly looking beyond a return journey to connect visitors with wider Otago and Central Otago tourism offerings. Partnerships such as Southern Way provide an opportunity to be part of a much bigger lower South Island tourism proposition, rather than relying on visitors who are already in Dunedin. The partnership brings together airports and regional tourism organisations to promote the region as a connected destination, encouraging tourists to include Dunedin in wider South Island itineraries. Ritchies Transport plays an important supporting role for Dunedin Railway Station, particularly with cruise passengers. When cruise ship companies charter a train, it can normally travel to the port to collect passengers; when track access prevents that, Ritchies transports passengers into Dunedin Railway Station so they can connect with their Taieri Gorge train experience. Beyond The Taieri Gorge Train, Dunedin Railway Station offers The Seasider, a coastal journey following the Otago coastline, showcasing some of Otago’s hidden gems along the way. The business also offers a range of event trains, providing different ways to experience the region by rail for groups and independent travellers. The business has also developed connections with operators in Pukerangi and Central Otago, helping visitors combine rail with road travel, cycling and other regional experiences, including onward adventures through to Middlemarch, Clyde or Queenstown. Brydie sees this as increasingly important. “The connection from Pukerangi to Queenstown offered from Cheeky Kiwi has had really good uptake.” “There’s definitely a lot of work going on behind the scenes in terms of tying Dunedin into a bigger picture.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=