Client: Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust

Date: November 2003

Author(s): Dr Ganesh Nana, Kel Sanderson, Mark Goodchild

This report addresses the viability of a proposal to develop and establish a Heritage-Tourist railway operation on the Rimutaka Fell incline. The study found the prospect to be both ambitious and exciting. However, there were many challenges needed to be addressed and/or overcome before fruition.

In particular, the report advised key elements to the establishment of a viable Heritage-Tourist railway attraction in the Rimutaka. In particular, it considered the window of opportunity to expand the first phase visitor base and thereby ensure the ongoing viability of the operation to be relatively short. Thus, it is essential that strategies and operations were adopted to ensure a breadth and range of visitors are attracted to the area and its activities. This would be necessary maintain visitor numbers and, thus, the viability of the Heritage Railway.

BERL#4246