The Highly Anticipated Return Of A Beloved Austin Favorite Has Been Delayed.

I Did Not Know That There Was A Mini-Train That Ran Through Zilker Park in Austin when I would go hang out there when I lived in Central Texas.

I'm a huge advocate for train travel as someone who used to regularly take the AMTRAK from here in East Texas to Central Texas as I've covered before.

Unfortunately, the return of the beloved Zilker Park mini train will have to wait.

After a nearly five-year absence, Austin’s most popular and missed train was planning for a return.

An Austin staple for many decades, the Zilker Zephyr train originally shut down after a 2019 storm caused the ground below the tracks to erode. The family that previously operated the train decided they no longer wanted to be involved.

But thanks to the hard work and contributions from the community and the Austin Parks Foundation, the train is back under new ownership as the “Zilker Eagle” and will be running on a slightly altered route around Austin’s premier park.

But After Several Months Of Testing, The Train Is Still Not Ready.

According to a post on their Facebook page, they recently tested the train with a full load of staff members and experienced some clearance issues.

To fix the issue, the train coaches are being transported one by one to Schertz, TX to be adjusted. Stronger springs and lift trucks are being installed to boost the train cars to increase their clearance from the bottom of the car to the track with a full load.

While no official date on when they will open has been announced, hopefully they can get the work done soon!

The plan to start is to charge $6 for tickets regardless of a rider’s age. However, there will also be a community day once per month where rides are free. Make sure you add this to your spring and summer travel plans!