Stanley Park Easter Train

Vancouver’s miniature train at Stanley Park is a popular attraction that runs all summer long as well as during the Easter, Halloween and Christmas seasons.

The train didn’t run for much of 2022. As of early 2023, when and if it starts back up again is to be determined.

Miniature Railway at Stanley Park

Carrying over 200,000 passengers each year, the 15-minute Stanley Park railway ride features trestles, tunnels, forest, 2 kilometres of track and seasonal themes. Children and young families love the train!

This article includes information about the following topics:

Click on any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about the Stanley Park Miniature Train.

Stanley Park Train Location

The Stanley Park miniature train is located on Pipeline Road in the middle of Stanley Park. Coming from West Georgia Street via the park entrance, take the second exit at the roundabout and the venue is just a little ways up on your right.

If using a GPS to get there and it requires an address, type in 690 Pipeline Road and it’ll get you close enough to see signs directing you where to go.

Stanley Park Train Schedule

The Stanley Park miniature train runs daily in the spring for just a week or so before Easter, from mid-April to mid-June on weekends (weather-permitting) and daily for the summer season from mid-June until early September.

The railway typically starts up again in October in the lead-up to Halloween, and then from the end of November until the first few days of January. In other words, with just a few exceptions, it’s closed most of January to March, September and November most years.

The 2021 schedule was different from other years because of COVID-19. The 2022 schedule is more comparable to pre-pandemic years, although the Halloween-themed train has been cancelled for the third consecutive year.

Miniature Train Summer Schedule

In the summer the train at Stanley Park runs from late-June until the first few days of September. In 2022, trains departed Wednesday to Sunday. Wednesday and Thursday hours were from 11 am until 4 pm. The train opened one hour earlier on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

2022 prices (not including taxes) were the following:

Adults (ages 19 to 64 years) – $7.50
Seniors (ages 65+) – $5.25
Youth (ages 13 to 18 years) – $5.25
Children (ages 3 to 12 years) – $3.75
Families (2 adults and 2 children or youth) – $15.00
Infants (ages 2 and under) – Free

Tickets for Stanley Park train rides were sold at the venue. Books of 10 tickets were also available for serious miniature railway enthusiasts at the following prices:

Adults (ages 19 to 64 years) – $52.50
Seniors (ages 65+) – $36.75
Youth (ages 13 to 18 years) – $36.75
Children (ages 3 to 12 years) – $26.25
Families (2 adults and 2 children or youth) – $105.00
Infants (ages 2 and under) – Free

Note: Prices, times and other details are subject to change.

In addition to the main summer train schedule, special seasonal train themes also take place at other times of the year. They include Easter trains in the spring, Halloween trains in October and Christmas trains in December.

For more information visit the Urban Forest Train.

Prices and other details for seasonal train trips are listed below.

Stanley Park Easter Train

The Stanley Park Easter Train usually runs during the daytime for just a week or so before Easter in the spring and includes the Easter Bunny, an Easter egg hunt, crafts, games and face painting.

In years when it does take place, children are encouraged to bring a basket or something to collect their Easter eggs in and parents are advised to buy their tickets in advance as the rides often sold out, especially on sunny weekend days.

In 2022 the Easter Train ran from Friday, April 15th, until Monday, April 18th, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm daily. This year, kids were able to meet the Easter Bunny and check out a maze as well.

Tickets for the Easter Train rides are usually about $7 per person, but free for children ages 2 and under. In years when they’re offered, tickets for carnival activities normally cost about $2 each.

Click Stanley Park Easter Train for more details.

Stanley Park Train and Easter Chick Mascot — Stanley Park Easter Train

Halloween Ghost Train

The Stanley Park Ghost Train is a family-friendly Halloween favourite for children, families, youth and even adults in Vancouver. The layout and theme change every year, but the ride through the forest predictably includes scenes with skeletons, monsters, gravestones and other typical Halloween paraphernalia. In 2019 the theme was “Alice in Nightmareland”.

In 2020, because of the global pandemic, there was no train during the Halloween season. The Ghost Train was cancelled in 2021 as well. In 2022 the Halloween-themed train was scheduled to return as “Welcome to Atomicville”. Unfortunately, the Ghost Train has been cancelled again due to mechanical issues. Hopefully the Halloween train returns in 2023.

In years when the Ghost Train operates, there is a less expensive matinee train ride on Saturdays and Sundays during the day which is during the daylight and therefore much less scary for little people, although still not for the ultra timid.

At night time, between 6 and 10 pm, the more hard-core Ghost Train is usually in operation and includes live performers and spooky lighting. Although still very family-friendly, it’s lots of fun for most folk but still not for everyone.

When the Ghost Train returns, expect the matinee train rides to cost about $7 per person and the evening trips to be around $14 for adults and $11 for folks aged 65+ and between 3 and 17.

For more information on the Ghost Train, click Stanley Park Halloween Train.

Stanley Park Train at Halloween — Stanley Park Ghost Train at Halloween

Christmas Bright Nights Train

Bright Nights at Stanley Park takes place between the end of November and the first few days in January each year and features millions of festive lights and Christmas decorations.

The event was cancelled for the 2020/21 season due to COVID-19. However, it returned from November 26th in 2021 until January 2nd in 2022.

Click Bright Nights for more information.

Stanley Park Train Video

To get an idea of what to expect on the Stanley Park train during the Christmas season, watch the following video. It begins and ends at the train station.

Tips and Advice

Want recommendations on how to make your Stanley Park Train experience as good as possible? Then check out the following tips:

TIP #1: Buy your tickets in advance just in case the day you want to go gets sold out, resulting in disappointed children. Also, to avoid the biggest crowds, go on a weekday in the earlier part of each season.

TIP #2: Sometimes, but not always, parking is free in the parking lot right outside the Stanley Park Train venue just off Pipeline Road. It’s not free in the summer, but sometimes during the Christmas season and at Halloween during the train operating times.

TIP #3: If you’re going to Stanley Park, don’t just go for the train. There is so much to see and do at the park, so combine your trip with other activities. Just outside the train venue grounds is a great children’s playground. The Vancouver Aquarium is also just a short walk away, the seawall is amazing for bike rides, in the summer there is the outdoor pool at Second Beach and there is great swimming also at Third Beach.