This news story about the suspension of Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad excursions this spring is based on a March 3, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here.
On Friday, March 3, 2023, Cuyahoga Valley National Park announced that the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) will suspend its activities and excursions this spring due to soil erosion.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is one of the top attractions in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, taking visitors on a scenic ride through the verdant valley of the Cuyahoga River.
Now, due to instability of the railroad tracks due to soil erosion, visitors will have to wait until at least the summer to go on scenic train rides in the park.
Spring Excursions on Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Suspended Due to Soil Erosion
“Ongoing geotechnical soil monitoring in recent weeks identified increasing erosion along the 26-mile scenic and educational railway in Cuyahoga Valley National Park,” the park said in a statement.
The tracks, originally built in 1880 for the Valley Railway, are used for scenic and educational rides through Cuyahoga Valley and do not operate for commercial train service.
During routine monitoring of the tracks in October 2022, engineers found instability at a site four miles south of the Fitzwater Maintenance Yard and determined the safest option was to suspend train operations beyond that point while further testing and analysis was completed.
Since October, CVSR has offered modified programming operating on a limited section of track while additional assessments were underway.
“We are going to do everything we can to allow the train to return to normal operations as soon as possible. We ask for continued patience while we complete construction projects to stabilize the tracks near the river. In the meantime, we appreciate CVSR’s flexibility in adjusting operations,” said Cuyahoga Valley National Park Superintendent Lisa Petit.
With the aid of a recently installed advanced stability monitoring system, the National Park Service had hoped that regular train service could safely resume starting March 3.
However, data associated with the monitoring system led to the decision to forgo all use of the tracks until repairs are made.
“The CVSR team is fully committed to keeping the train running. Our staff and volunteers have successfully overcome numerous obstacles over the past few years. I continue to be amazed at their resourcefulness. I am hopeful that we have a solution soon,” said Joe Mazur, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad President and CEO.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Operations Suspended Until At Least This Summer, Refunds on the Way
While the National Park Service and CVSR seek action to keep the train running, safety remains the number one priority.
The National Park Service and CVSR are currently exploring various options to safely restart train operations by summer.
Suspended CVSR programming includes the Cleveland Dinner & Events Train and the National Park Scenic Excursion. All ticket purchases will be automatically refunded within 5-7 business days to the original form of payment.
The National Park Service and CVSR, a non-profit volunteer supported park partner, work together to manage, and safeguard the historic locomotive fleet and tracks. The Park Service owns and preserves the 26 miles of tracks, while CVSR owns and maintains the locomotive and passenger fleet.