THUNDER BAY — When the city's park services reopen for the season, the Muskeg Express – the popular children's train ride at Centennial Park – will still be shut down.
The attraction was in service for barely a day last year when it was derailed by the need for repairs.
It didn't return last season, and is still being worked on.
It would normally begin operation on May 30, but the Muskeg Express was absent from a list of services and opening dates released Wednesday by the City of Thunder Bay.
"We won't make the 30th. It's not in service yet, so I can't commit to the opening date, but possibly sometime in June," said Cory Halvorsen, manager of Parks & Open Spaces.
The train ride has had a rocky track record for the last number of years because of mechanical issues or issues with the rails.
"I don't think it can continue like this indefinitely. Our objective is always to get it stabilized, but that's partly why I'm not committing to an opening date," Halvorsen said.
"Last year we tested it as much as we could before opening, and didn't see any issues. Then it came off the very first day. I don't want that to happen anymore."
Halvorsen said some modifications that can't be done in the winter are still underway.
"We've got to switch a few parts out...We have a repair to do on the track that is still pending...we're switching out some of the wheels so that it's a little bit stronger material on the front wheels, and that the profile of the wheels is updated and consistent. That's part of the testing."
He said staff will do as many test runs as necessary to ensure the train is riding properly on the track before the attraction resumes taking passengers on an excursion through the park.
