The Wheatland Express Excursion Train will be offering tours again in July. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

All Aboard!

Wheatland Express Excursion Train able to resume operations in July

May 27, 2021 | 1:00 PM

The Wheatland Express can get back on track when more restrictions lift in June.

Rides can begin again in July, but culinary experiences will be on hold until phase three of the reopening roadmap.

Director of operations Ashlyn Weninger told northeastNOW the train that runs between Cudworth and Wakaw will operate throughout the fall and into winter this year.

“We have Halloween and Christmas tours planned so those will make their way onto the schedule before too long,” Weninger said.

A couple of winter excursions were offered during the 2018 season, but the cars needed some work and couldn’t operate in the winter for 2019.

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“Our excursions have been very popular during our first two operating seasons,” Weninger said. “We were excited for 2020 until everything shut down but we are hoping that with everyone travelling regionally that it will again be a popular experience.”

Last year, tickets were refunded for those that had booked and then this year when the season was pushed back there was the option to be refunded or have a travel credit.

A sleeper car is being added to the fleet for on-board overnight accommodations and new dining cars have also been refurbished for culinary excursions.

Ground has also been broken on a western town along the rail line in Wakaw.

“The western town front will have all kinds of building from a general store to saloon and hotel,” Weninger said.

Different partners are being incorporated into the buildings such as a feed store that is being modeled after an Early’s Farm and Garden that would have been seen along the railroad tracks in downtown Saskatoon.

The buildings will also be decorated for each excursion such as the Halloween and Christmas experiences.

A sleigh has also been built for horses to pull in winter, and a jail wagon and wagon rides in the summer.

Train staff attended Rendezvous Canada which is Canada’s signature tourism show.

“We were able to showcase Saskatchewan and make some connections that hopefully we will being seeing some when the borders open,” Weninger said.

This week is Saskatchewan Tourism Week, and the Wheatland Express has partnered with Uniglobe Travel. Uniglobe has a passport initiative that includes a special offer from the Wheatland Express.

“We encourage everyone to take the 2021 travel pledge and commit to travelling in Canada and around home first to help tour operators recover from this pandemic,” Weninger said.

A light tour schedule is available on their website.

“We are so ready to have people back on board and we will add more tours as to our schedule as things fill up and open up,” Weninger said.

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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser