Alternatives to the Stanley Park Train
byToday, the Vancouver Park Board announced that the Stanley Park Train will not be back in operation in time for the popular Easter Train event. The train will need to remain offline for the foreseeable future.
From the Park Board: “Train operations have been suspended since late last year when emission safety concerns prompted the cancellation of the Bright Nights Christmas Train. Recent testing of the locomotive engines, all of which are 50 years old or more and showing signs of their age, indicates efforts to address emissions concerns were unsuccessful.
Over the past several years, numerous steps have been taken to extend the functional lifespan of the Stanley Park Train. However, this latest closure puts in question the operational and financial viability of operating the train with the existing combustion engines.
Staff are therefore undertaking a comprehensive analysis of potential paths forward which they will present to Park Board Commissioners for consideration in June 2025.”
Alternatives to the Stanley Park Train
If you’re looking for some miniature railway fun, we actually have two more options in Metro Vancouver that operate seasonally and for special holidays.
Burnaby Central Railway: Open Saturdays, Sundays and Stat holidays, Easter to Thanksgiving. Their opening day for 2025 will be Good Friday, April 18th. It runs between 11:00am and 5:00pm. Ticket sales are only in person at the kiosk, no online sales. $4.50 for a single ride, all passengers 3 years old and up
$40.00 for a 10 ride passes (may be used over multiple days, no expiry). You can also book it for birthday parties. This is a fun ride-on-top miniature train.
Bear Creek Park Train: Now open for the season (as of March 15th) from 10:00am to 5:00pm every day of the week. There will be special activations for Easter in late April with specific hours. All tickets can be purchased on site, not online. They also host birthday parties, and have an 18-hole mini golf course on site. This is a bigger train like Stanley Park’s with passenger cars that you sit inside.
Both of these train options are attached to city parks with tons of amenities like playgrounds, nature walks, sports facilities, and more.
