Officials working on an electric shuttle for visitors to Albuquerque BioPark are hoping a new charger will solve the electrical problem that kept the train from working throughout the River of Lights.

BioPark Guest Experience manager Allyson Zahm commented that if the charger works the shuttle should be operational fairly soon.

“If all goes well with the new charger, it should be within a matter of weeks,” she told KRQE recently. “If that doesn’t work, we will actually bring the rep from the manufacturer out here to do some onsite diagnosis.”

The shuttle between the BioPark, the zoo and the aquarium is supposed to run along Tingley but suffered problems during the River of Lights.

“We were prepared to do a soft launch of the new electric shuttle during River of Lights,” Zahm said. “We operated for two nights and ended up having some electrical issues that were preventing the shuttle from starting.”

In 2020, the ABQ BioPark announced plans for two electric shuttles that would transport passengers from the zoo to the Botanic Garden twice as fast as the original train.

“It’s especially great for visitors who want to see the whole BioPark in one day,” Zahm said, “If they’re from out of town and don’t have a lot of time. It’s a great way to do it.”

The shuttles were to be working last summer, but delays occurred due to supply chain and staffing issues. When they finally launched the shuttle during the River of Lights, it was hampered by electrical issues and needed a new charger.

Tests are being conducted with the new equipment before announcing a launch date. The arrival of the second shuttle isn’t expected for a few months.

“Still a long timeline, but the exciting thing about having these two shuttles is that it reopens the transportation between the zoo and the aquarium and gardens,” Zahm said.