Stanley Park’s Ghost train goes boo; cancelled again for 2022

The City of Vancouver announced Tuesday that the Stanley Park Ghost Train has been cancelled for a third year, as mechanical issues hamper the autumnal feature.

In a release, the city said mechanical issues have affected the “antique engines and passenger cars,” and as such, the trains did not pass a recent inspection by Technical Safety BC.

“The distinctive engines, some more than 60 years old, require unique and hard-to-access parts, in addition to highly specialized service and maintenance, both of which are in short supply,” the city said. “There are few mechanics with the requisite knowledge of this vintage equipment. By announcing the event cancellation now, we hope to ensure all impacted partners and vendors associated with the Ghost Train are given ample time to make.”

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The city says it is working hard to fix the mechanical issues before the popular winter holiday event, Bright Nights, which usually begins at the end of November each year. The cancellation comes after the Ghost Train was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and again in 2021 due to the threat of coyotes in the park.

The city is working on a longer-term solution, it says, and is collaborating with Simon Fraser Universit to update the “ageing fleet, including climate-friendly alternatives like electric engines.”

People hoping to attend the Ghost Train are being encouraged by the city to attend VanDusen Garden’s Harvest Days in October.