PENINSULA, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will suspend operations for almost two months beginning this Friday, March 8, “to make substantial upgrades to safety and operating procedures,” the tourist railroad announced today (Monday, March 4).
The railroad says in a press release that the suspension, through May 2, will allow “a comprehensive initiative to upgrade operational tools and refine procedures … to further enhance its outstanding safety and service record.” The project will include improvements in radio communications, operations management software, and onboard camera systems, as well as operating rules and procedures “tailored to the unique scale of its operations.”
Passengers holding tickets will be contacted and offered full refunds.
“Earlier this week, we received the much-awaited funding and trustee approval to move forward with these enhancements,” said Joe Mazur, the railroad’s CEO. “We understand that the decision to suspend operations will cause disappointment to some of our scheduled passengers. For that we are truly sorry, however, it’s never too soon to make continued improvements when safety is concerned.”
Lynee Bixler, the railroad’s director of marketing and communications, told the Akron Beacon Journal that the railroad decided to take the action after receiving the funding since this is a slower time of year, with just weekend operations.
The railroad has faced a number of challenges since resuming operations after the COVID-19 pandemic, with erosion along the Cuyahoga River disrupting its regular schedule to varying degrees [see “Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to resume …,” Trains News Wire, April 14, 2023].
