Louisville Zoo officials say property expansion plans include bringing back the famous train

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Fifteen years after a train derailment injured 22 people at the Louisville Zoo, the popular attraction will make a comeback.

Thanks to state funding, the train will be a part of the new Kentucky Trails Habitat, Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said Wednesday. Running on flat ground in the southern portion of the zoo property, Maloney said the train will be fully electric.

"It's environmentally good stewardship there," Maloney said. "And also, we will have the opportunity to make sure that it's all good quality control."

An investigation into the derailment found speed, poor maintenance and inadequate training caused it. But Louisville natives have fond memories of the train.

"I was a 90s kid," Nash Amy, who grew up riding the train, said Wednesday. "You hate to hear that something like that happened, but I remember as a fond memory as a kid. So it would be nice to see it come back."

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The train is just one element of an expansion at the zoo, which also includes walking trails and adding a water feature for kayaking. The idea is to work around part of the property where a sinkhole opened in an undeveloped area in 2019, meaning the train won't run along the same path.

Several families visiting the zoo on Valentine's Day said they support the zoo's expansion and can't wait to see it come to life.

"I love what they've done to the Columbus exhibit and adding more playground. I can't wait to see it get better," said Adrienne Pendleton, who was visiting Wednesday with her son. "They are so smart at how they run the zoo. So I know whatever they have planned is going to be amazing."

Zoo officials are still working on the design. Right now, the tracks would run near the Glacier Run exhibit.

New renderings are expected to soon.

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