Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo introduce new train ride

Excitement is in the air for the new Kinsmen Express II ride at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.

The new electric and trackless train will give tours around the zoo to adults and children, becoming one of the hottest commodities in the park.

Zoo manager, Jeff Mitchell, explains why the original train is being replaced.

“We’ve had the Kinsmen Express for over 25 years and it was getting to the end of its life,” Mitchell explained.

“We went to the Kinsmen this year and expressed how much it means to the community and how much the train means to our education. The Kinsmen were all excited and jumped on the chance to provide us with this again.”

The Kinsmen Club presented a cheque of $100,000 to help fund the new train operation.

He says having a strong partnership with the group was massive in bringing a new train into the park.

“We have lots and lots of partnerships, the Kinsmen is just one of those key solid relationships that we have every year,” Mitchell said.

“Having them jump on board, it’s just critical to what we do here.”

Mitchell shared one of his favourite features of the new train.

“One of the great things about it is that it allows us to get our educational message off, but it’s also fully accessible. We have a wheelchair ramp and a wheelchair-accessible car in it, so we can reach anybody.”

Mitchell says there are also cameras on the front and back for safety purposes, seatbelts, and a unique sound system to communicate to all those riding the bus.

The zoo manager says the timing couldn’t be better coming off of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is just one of those things that for the last couple years with COVID, we haven’t been able to run the train and we haven’t been able to provide this opportunity,” Mitchell said.

“Being able to do it with a brand new train and a brand new education message to everyone in Saskatoon…. I’m ecstatic, over the moon.”