FORT WAYNE — The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s popular train can now carry guests of all abilities.

The zoo on Tuesday unveiled a new wheelchair-accessible car on its Z.O.&O. railroad train ride. The car was made possible through a $25,000 grant from AWS and the M.E. Raker Foundation.

The Blanton family attended Tuesday’s ribbon cutting, and daughter Layla rode the train in her wheelchair for the first time.

“We are excited to have an accessible car on the Z.O.&O. Railroad train ride and the look of pure joy on Layla’s face makes the time, planning, research, and fundraising worth it,” said Amy Lazoff, zoo director of development.

The zoo worked with the manufacturer of the train and studied the size of the tunnel and other cars to find a solution for a wheelchair accessible car. The old train canopies were removed and a retrofitted car was added.