Yep. Similar problem up north, with Auckland refusing to cough up a cent towards costs of Te Huia, leaving it all to Waikato (mainly Hamilton). And then some of the Jafas moan about the timetable not being good enough!

I imagine the Oamaru frequency is to do with the costs vs the no of passengers that want to use it. If Waitaki DC supported the service, like Dunedin CC, then it might be more attractive. Lot of work needed yet for Middlemarch from what I hear.