The company formerly named Dunedin Railways caused a surprise earlier this week when it changed its name to Dunedin Railway Station.
That caused some questions from members of the public, wondering how a company that ran trains could be named after a building that did not move.
In a statement late yesterday, company chief executive Rebekah Jenkins said the Dunedin Railway Station was one of the most photographed buildings in the southern hemisphere.
‘‘Nothing about the rail journeys is changing. This brings everything together — the station as a historic building and a working railway station, alongside The Taieri Gorge and The Seasider as the train tours that operate from it,’’ she said
The Taieri Gorge and The Seasider were distinct experiences, each with its own identity alongside the station.
‘‘This reflects the experience as it already exists: a landmark building, a working station, and the rail journeys that depart from it.’’
The station was a functioning railway station where scenic train tours departed regularly. The Taieri Gorge and The Seasider remained the core experiences offered by the company.
The station was widely recognised and visited, but its role as an operating rail hub was less understood. Many visitors only discovered the trains once they arrived, she said.
When contacted, Ms Jenkins declined to answer further questions.
It was unclear what the impetus to get the name changed was and whether consultants were used in coming up with the new name.
The station was built in 1906 and made a list of the top 20 railway stations in the world last year.
The Otago Art Society is based in the upper floor of the station. Society president Rose Shepard said the new name would just create confusion.
‘‘We knew they were rebranding but we didn’t know that this was what the new branding was. We thought they were just going to redo the posters and signage in the building — didn’t realise they were changing their actual operating name,’’ she said.
‘‘It took me by surprise. I was like, ‘What do you mean they’ve changed their name to the Dunedin Railway Station?’. It just creates confusion, I think.’’
It was hard to say whether the name change would impact the society.
She said it was good to have the booking office in the station open seven days a week and it drew people into the station.
The society, in its 150th year, was happy in its rooms.
On the other side of the first floor had been the NZ Sports Hall of Fame, but it closed permanently earlier this month. The Hall of Fame is being moved later in the year to Cambridge.
Cobb & Co has a restaurant on the northern end of the building but its owner did not return calls yesterday.
