Linking the Taieri Gorge Railway and the Otago Central Rail Trail: A Survey of Users Demands

The main aim of this research was to assess the demand for increased frequencies of service offered by the Taieri Gorge Railway (TGR) between Dunedin and Middlemarch" the start (or terminus) of the Otago Central Rail Trail (OCRT). The study comprised two survey questionnaires administered to rail trail visitors and train travellers that compared their current use and satisfaction levels with the service provided by the TGR. Interviews with key train, community and tourism stakeholders were also undertaken to gain a broader understanding of the impacts of an expanded train service to Middlemarch on the community, on businesses involved and on tourists to the region.