NORTH BAY, Ontario — In another step toward restoration of Northlander passenger service, Ontario Northland has released a proposed timetable for the train, expected to resume this year.
The timetable released in December calls for 10 hour, 40-minute service on the approximately 740-kilometer (460-mile) route between Toronto and Timmins, Ont. The trains will serve 13 intermediate stops. The northbound train will operate overnight, leaving Toronto at 6:30 p.m.; the southbound train will depart from Timmins at 12:15 a.m. Operation will be four to seven days per week, based on seasonal demand.
No start date has been set. Local news site Bay Today reports Ontario Northland CEO Chad Evans has said the start will depend on the delivery date of three trainsets ordered from Siemens in 2022 [see “Ontario government orders …,” Trains.com, Dec. 15, 2022]. Those are expected early this year and will undergo several months of testing before a launch date is announced. Ticket prices also have yet to be determined.
The original Northlander made its final run in September 2012, when it was replaced by bus service because of low ridership and high costs. The business case for the train’s reinstatement notes rail is more reliable than road transportation in Northern Ontario because of the challenges of relying on road transportation in Northern Ontario, whether highways are subject to frequent weather closures.
More on the planned service is available at the Ontario Northland website.
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
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