Ghost Train in Stanley Park returns on October 10

The Ghost Train in Stanley Park is back after a years-long hiatus, and the Vancouver Park Board promises a “spectacularly spooky” experience to anyone who manages to get their hands on tickets.

The Halloween train has been out of service since 2019 – due to the pandemic, concerns about coyote attacks in the park and technical issues, it was taken off the tracks.

However, on the evening of October 10, it will be back and will run all day until Halloween – except Thanksgiving – from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. On weekends, the train will also run between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“A ride on the ghost train is a time-honored tradition for many Vancouver families and we are thrilled to have it back on track and to be able to offer this experience to residents and visitors once again,” said Brennan Bastyovanszky, chair of the park board, in a statement.

Tickets go on sale at 12pm on September 25th and are available online only. Visitors can join a web-based queue starting at 11:30am and will be randomly assigned a spot in the virtual queue. After 12pm, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Riders will travel through the eerie woods of Stanley Park, which has been transformed into a haunted cemetery, where they will encounter imaginative characters and captivating theatrical performances,” the park administration said in an announcement.

Last year, when the train returned for the Bright Nights event, 23,000 tickets sold out in 90 minutes. Some who tried to buy them expressed frustration over technical issues, while others who successfully secured a seat on the train resold their tickets online at inflated prices.

Another problem with the train's return — which Mayor Ken Sim announced with the words “It's back, baby!” — was the lack of an accessible car. One has since been added, and wheelchair users can get free tickets for themselves and a companion by calling 1-844-307-7469 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sept. 25.

Further details are available online.