Ebbing cruise market delays steam train excursions

Graeme Crossman. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The launch of a new tourism attraction in Tauranga has been postponed after the recession hit cruise ship arrivals.

Years of planning between Te Puke's Kiwi 360 operator Graeme Crossman and Auckland's Mainline Steam Heritage Trust were meant to culminate in a steam train excursion business based in Tauranga this summer.

The viability of the high-cost, high-risk venture was to be underpinned by the cruise ship passenger market, but instead of a forecasted 65 to 70 ships arriving in Tauranga this season, the economic downturn dropped numbers to 42.

It prompted Mr Crossman and the trust to pull the plug on the project because of fears they could be left holding a lot of costs without such guaranteed core business.

Trust operations manager Michael Tolich said that after discussions with cruise ship companies it was decided there would not be enough uptake.

The predominantly Australian and New Zealand passengers were more likely to choose budget shore excursions.

However, Mr Tolich and Mr Crossman are more confident about next season because of signs the recession is receding and that North Americans will return in large numbers.

It was the universal enthusiasm that convinced Mr Tolich the steam train would be a winner, once the economy had improved. The key to the success of the venture was that excursions could be purchased by cruise ship passengers before they arrived in Tauranga.

The problem of where to park the train has been solved by an "absolutely fantastic" offer by the Port of Tauranga. It will be parked on a track inside the port's security fence where it can be backed up to within 100m of liners.

The arrangement was that the trust would operate the train and Mr Crossman would bring passengers on board. He would pay an amount each day for the trains, meaning a minimum number of passengers would be needed off each ship to run the excursions.

Excursions were to involve cruise ship passengers taking the train to Matata, with coach links to Rotorua and connecting up with Kiwi 360.

Tauranga people will get a taste of what's to come when a trust steam train arrives in town for the Harvest Festival next month. It will offer rides for about a week.