Summerland British Columbia - The Kettle Valley Railway in Summerland will be opening for its 23rd season on Saturday, and after a strong season last year the attraction will run several new trains this year.
 
The KVR Society will be putting on a Murder Mystery performance on the train on 21 Jul 2018, partnering with the Summerland Theatre and done with a script from a professional outfit.
 
Society president Gerry Conrad said there may be a second performance hosted depending on how the first one goes.
 
The KVR will also be hosting a Halloween train on the Friday and Saturday before Halloween.
 
An early-evening train will be geared for "little trick-or-treaters," before a train later in the evening which will give riders more of a spook.
 
Conrad was at Summerland municipal hall on Monday night, briefing council on plans this year and looking back on last year, when more than 30,000 people rode the train.
 
The railway will also continue to run a fall train during the Summerland Light Up weekend as well as a Christmas train through December.
 
He added the KVR has sold out its Christmas train for several consecutive years, and the society is hoping to enable more people to be able to take part.
 
"We're working very hard towards acquiring a third passenger coach, or refurbishing the one we have, so that for Christmas we can offer more capacity," Conrad said.
 
Apart from customer-related events, the society is continuing to fund raise for a $600,000 upgrade that will be needed on the Trout Creek trestle.
 
So far close to $30,000 has been raised.
 
"We obviously need to launch a major, semi-professional fundraising campaign, and we're in consultation with individuals... that will be coming," Conrad said.
 
For Saturday's opening day, Conrad said about 100 reservations have been made and he said there's ample room still available.
 
Colton Davies.