Latest news with #OntarioNorthland
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Plans roll forward to get Northlander passenger train back on the tracks
Ontario Progressive Conservatives are pledging to improve road and rail transportation in northern Ontario, including investing $75 million to restore the Northlander passenger rail service between Toronto and Timmins, Ont. (File) Plans are moving forward to get the Northlander passenger train back on the tracks. On Friday, the Ontario government revealed it had awarded three contracts to design and manufacture nine station shelters, rail safety and warning system upgrades. 'The return of the Northlander will ensure access to essential services like health care and education while supporting economic prosperity and tourism across the region,' stated Jill Dunlop, Simcoe North MPP. Enseicom Inc. will design and manufacture the station shelters in Matheson, Kirkland Lake, Temiskaming Shores, Temagami, South River, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Washago over the next two years. Each shelter will be equipped with seating, lighting, and heating. 'The shelters will be safe, comfortable and accessible, providing a consistent, modern passenger experience for customers boarding and exiting the train all along the route,' noted Chad Evans, Ontario Northland's chief executive officer. Remcan Ltd. will be responsible for track upgrades that go beyond improving rail safety. The province says these upgrades will also reduce maintenance needs and decrease the risk of derailments. Warning system upgrades along the Northlander corridor will be completed by X-Rail. 'These upgraded amenities will contribute to providing safe, accessible transportation options to residents and visitors while helping support the growth and development of our local economy through improved access to tourism and job opportunities,' said Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney. Construction is slated to start this summer on platforms, parking areas, pathways, and track improvements. Once the Northlander passenger rail service is revived, it will operate four to seven days a week, depending on travel demands.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Timmins residents have their say on the return of the Northlander train
Ontario Northland is holding public information sessions to update people on its progress and collect feedback. Work on bringing the Northlander back into operation continues at Ontario Northland. Public information sessions are ongoing to update people on its progress and collect feedback. ONR representatives were at Northern College in Timmins on Wednesday. Early phases of construction are underway at the stops that will form the new Northlander train line – and officials at Ontario Northland said they want to keep people updated on their progress. 'There's a few work streams in motion,' said Kate Bondette of Ontario Northland. 'We are completing infrastructure work all along the corridor and we're also doing our environmental studies for the future station. We've done architectural studies, noise and vibration studies, ground and soil water. So all of those things that need to be considered before we start to build are happening now and have been happening since last year.' Bondette said the information sessions are bringing in valuable information about what people expect from the service's return and what they'll be using it for: work, travel, school, medical appointments, even exploring the corridor. 'What's been really exciting is people are starting to envision the service for themselves,' she said. 'They're asking what time the train is coming in, what time it'll be getting in to Toronto, when it's coming back. They're asking about the connections to municipal transit. What will people do when they get here? So, it's been really insightful.' Public feedback has included accounting for parcel service, security and potential impacts on properties and off-road trails. And ensuring the train line will stay for good and run smoothly. After more than two decades without passenger rail, people are eager for its return. 'My wife and I will be on the first train, guaranteed, no matter what,' one person said. 'I'll be supporting it right to the end.' Northland officials said train sets will begin manufacturing in the coming weeks, expecting a 2026 arrival. Once testing along the corridor commences, active service won't be far behind.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
New train design unveiled for Northlander revival
The Ford government and Ontario Northland are chugging along with the revival of the Northlander train, connecting Timmins to Toronto.
CBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
'It's happening. It's real': Northlander passenger train on track to return next year
Some 14 years after it was scrapped by the previous Liberal government and eight years after the current Progressive Conservative promised to bring it back, the Northlander passenger train is set to return in 2026. "Literally we are on track as we speak," said Al Spacek, chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission said. "The equipment is being manufactured and we've seen some exciting developments. Our staff have been down to the manufacturing facility. So it's happening. It's real." Spacek said the passenger service will be fully accessible, complete with Wi-Fi for guests. He also added that improvements are being made to the rail track. "This government has already invested over $70 million on upgrading the track between North Bay and Timmins," he said. "It will be a nice, smooth ride and this only represents 42 per cent of the work that's being planned on the track." Spacek said it's not yet known exactly how much it will cost to bring the Northlander back, but said the provincial government has spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" so far. "We've come a long way since the previous government said they're going to shut down this service," he said. "I'm not sure there was a lack of demand or ridership... certainly that was a decision by the previous government to shut it down for whatever reasons." Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne did indeed cite low ridership and high costs in 2012, when her government decided to scrap the Northlander passenger train and redirect that funding into Ontario Northland's passenger bus service. In 2011, the Northlander had 39,000 riders, with an annual subsidy of $100 million keeping the train running. By comparison, the 2022 business case for bringing back the train estimated annual operating costs at around $283 million, with as much as $93 million in revenues, if they hit a target of 58,000 riders by 2041. "Ticket prices haven't been determined yet, but this is a public transportation service so the cost will be subsidized. Affordability is a priority," said Spacek. "It's a right that people have access to public transportation. Passenger service doesn't make money. That's the fact of life."
National Post
29-05-2025
- General
- National Post
Northlander train linking Toronto to Timmins set for relaunch in 2026. What we know about it
The provincially owned Northlander train between Toronto and northern Ontario is set to make a comeback. Article content Article content Operated by the provincially owned Ontario Northland Railway, the train service was discontinued in 2012 and replaced with buses. But it's set to relaunch in 2026 with expanded service and new trains. Article content The route will include 16 stops in total: Toronto's Union Station, Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, Timmins and Cochrane. Article content The fully-accessible trains will include wheelchair lifts, wide aisles, braille signage for key features, audio and visual onboard announcements, and accessible washrooms. These amenities should make it appealing to a broader range of travellers, including families, seniors and people with disabilities. Article content Article content The trains will also have features such as power outlets and USB charging at every seat, Wi-Fi, spaces for bicycles, and a variety of seating options, including single-row seats and pods for groups. Article content Since the service was cancelled, municipalities and Indigenous communities in northern Ontario have continuously called for its return. The service is expected to eventually transport between 40,000 and 60,000 riders a year. Article content At a 2025 Northeastern Municipal Conference, Ontario Northland CEO Chad Evans announced the new era of the Northlander, reports Northern Ontario Business, adding that the announcement was met with enthusiasm from hundreds of delegates. Article content Article content The new service is expected to be a significant improvement, offering a safer and more reliable alternative to road travel, especially in harsh northern weather conditions. Article content Article content Surveys conducted in the region indicate broad public support for the return of passenger rail, with many residents expressing intent to use it. Indigenous communities have shown strong interest due to the affordability compared to car ownership.
