Supporting passenger rail service in the North is in the 2021 Ontario Budget!
It took eight-and-a-half years of advocating for the return of the Northlander
The Northeastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN) is excited to announce the Ontario government has committed to funding the next step to moving forward on the project with $5 million and hopefully then to the final stage: putting ‘bums in seats’ on the train between Toronto and Timmins/Cochrane.
Quoted from Page 106 of the Ontario Budget 2021:
“Ontario is committed to reviewing initiatives to meet transportation needs in the North to optimize bus services and to develop options for passenger rail services across Northern Ontario. In keeping with the draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario, the government is accelerating work to examine safety and infrastructure needs for potential future passenger rail service between Toronto, North Bay, Timmins and Cochrane. Ontario is investing $5 million to support planning and design work. An initial business case is being finalized and is expected to be released in spring 2021.”
Our expectation is the next steps in the ONTC/Metrolinx business plan will be to confirm costs and service plans as well as to work with CN on a track audit of the CN line south of North Bay to Toronto and ensure the performance expectations will be met. It is critical for all parties to continue engaging with key stakeholders including municipalities, First Nations, colleges and universities as well as the general public.
Howie and I thank all those invested in getting the Northlander back on the track for their ongoing and never-wavering enthusiastic support over the last eight-and-a-half years. As co-chairs of the Northeastern Ontario Rail Network advocacy group, we were both holding our breath with this budget—hoping to hear about the return of passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario. And we did! We will continue to follow the MTO closely to ensure we continue to move forward at a good pace.
Next, we look forward to the soon-to-be-published ONTC/METROLINX Business Plan.
Lucille Frith & Howie Wilcox, co-chairs, Northeastern Ontario Rail Network
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Europe does have a great train network. A high speed electrical train would definitely benefit Ontario.
I really wish someone could tell me why we’re not working on a provincial high speed train strategy. Windsor to Ottawa, and Toronto to North Bay. You know a rail system that actually serves the people, a rail line/track owned by the people (not CN or CP, who own the Via line). Time for high speed electric rail lines. My goodness, we’re literally living in the 1930’s….
Lastly, you’d think with the newly arrived working from home residents, paying $500k+ for an average home, this would almost constitute Muskoka as GTA suburb.
Imagine going to TO in an hour to see that leaf or jays game, then home by in Huntsville by midnight? Ahhhh, one can only dream about forward thinking government.
Alas, back to looking to relocate to europe post retirement.