It's the little engine that can't...and a familiar tale for many, as the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation confirmed Friday (Dec. 20) that the festive Stanley Park Bright Nights Train will not be resuming its jolly, illuminated journey this season following a safety incident a week ago.
Operations of the Christmastime train rides came to a halt last Friday when exhaust from one of the train’s locomotives caused a driver to become ill and require medical attention.
The park board says staff have spent the last week "working tirelessly to find a solution that ensures the safety of our staff in time for the holidays."
Unfortunately, though, the park board now says the train will not be able to return in time for the remainder of the holiday season.
'We know what a beloved tradition and highlight the train is for so many families'
“We are very sorry to be delivering such disappointing news to the thousands of customers who were hoping to ride the Bright Nights Train throughout the holidays,” said Steve Jackson, General Manager of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, in an emailed press release.
“We know what a beloved tradition and highlight the train is for so many families, however, the remaining dates left in the Bright Nights calendar don’t leave us with enough time to make the necessary safety changes and regulatory sign-off to guarantee the safety of our staff.”
One of the hottest tickets in town, rides for designated timeslots were sold exclusively in advance online back on November 8.
Bright Nights light event still open by donation
The train is one feature of the annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park lights display and family-friendly holiday attraction. The event is a fundraiser for the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund and is put on with the help of volunteers. Those people, who work for regional fire departments, must return to their regular schedules after the new year, which is why the event cannot be extended later into January, explains the park board.
In addition to the train rides, Bright Nights is also a popular and lively holiday event featuring twinkling lights (including a light tunnel), live entertainment, photos with Santa, and onsite food vendors selling things like hot chocolate, churros, popcorn, and pretzels.
The Bright Nights train plaza will remain open during the season, and admission is by donation. The event runs nightly from 4 to 10 p.m. from now through January 4, 2025 (with a closure on Christmas Day).
All train customers will be receiving automatic refunds and a promo code for discounted tickets to the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden, says the park board.
Stanley Park train parked for several seasons before Christmas 2023
This year would have marked the second consecutive year the Christmastime train would have been able to run after a few years when the train has seen a spotty schedule due to COVID-19 and coyote issues. Then came technical issues: The train had fallen into disrepair and required specialized repairs and specialized parts, which were difficult to get a hold of, stated the mayor's office last year.
However, the train got back on track for the holiday season a year ago and also was able to enjoy successful runs with themed rides once again this year for Easter and Halloween.
