Trick, no treat: Stanley Park ghost train derailed for 4th straight year

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 derailedthe train. In 2020, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the shutdown.

An online post announcing the latestcancellationsaid specialized parts required to fix the train have been acquired but additional repairs and testing arestill 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 councilin 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.