Trick, no treat: Stanley Park ghost train derailed for 4th straight year
Repairs expected to be done by November but needs signoff from Technical Safety B.C. before starting up again
The Stanley Park ghost train is a no-go for a fourth straight Halloween due to ongoing "restoration work," according to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.
Mechanical issues and a failed inspection prevented the popular attraction from running last year. In 2021 coyote attacks in Stanley Park derailed the train. In 2020, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the shutdown.
An online post announcing the latest cancellation said specialized parts required to fix the train have been acquired but additional repairs and testing are still ongoing.
The work is expected to be completed by November but will need signoff from Technical Safety B.C. before operations can resume.
The original miniature train opened in Stanley Park in 1947 and some parts of the current train are 60 years old, according to the city.
A memo to mayor and council in June cited a lack of expertise within city staff and with the train's manufacturer to maintain the aging equipment.
It said the pandemic led to extensive gaps in maintenance and that a third-party contractor had been hired to come up with a remediation plan.