Northeastern Ontario hasn’t had passenger train service since 2012. That might change soon | 24CA News
The Ontario authorities is transferring ahead with plans to reinstate passenger rail service in northeastern Ontario.
Ontario’s affiliate minister of transportation, Stan Cho, was in North Bay Thursday the place he introduced that the province will spend $139.5 million on three new prepare units as a part of the plan to deliver again Ontario Northland passenger trains.
Cho stated many communities, companies and people have been calling for the return of the Northlander, and the province has “heard those calls loud and clear.”
“A reliable transportation network to get people where they need to go on time, safely, and with minimal stress is absolutely critical. And we know that a key part of such a network is a well functioning and convenient passenger rail system.”
The province stated the brand new rail vehicles will probably be constructed by Siemens Mobility Limited, and will probably be totally accessible with built-in wheelchair lifts, cupboard space for mobility gadgets and totally accessible washrooms.
Service cancelled in 2012
The Northlander service, which ran from Toronto to Cochrane, northeast of Timmins, was cancelled in 2012.
The Progressive Conservatives promised to deliver the service again, and have stated the goal date for reinstating the service is someday within the mid-2020s. The province additionally introduced earlier this 12 months that the terminus for the brand new route could be in Timmins, with a connection to Cochrane, which would supply a connection to the Polar Bear Express service to Moosonee.
WATCH | Northlander’s return met with skepticism:
What the lack of the Northlander prepare means to the individuals of northern Ontario because the province’s essential events make election pledges to deliver the prepare again on observe.
Cho stated Thursday that the brand new trains are anticipated to be delivered by the top of 2026, and that he is “confident” the province will ship on its promise to have the service up and working within the mid-2020s, although he didn’t present a selected 12 months.
Ontario Northland’s interim president and CEO, Chad Evans, stated shopping for the trains is a “key next step” towards attaining the mid-2020s service begin date.
“As a northern agency we understand the unique needs of northerners. We understand especially the importance of working with partners to better connect rural Ontario to major centres, Ontarians to government services, seniors to medical appointments, and students to post-secondary institutions,” Evans stated.
