The province has released the anticipated launch fares for the Northlander once it returns to service, with prices set at approximately 10 per cent above the standard rate of travel on the existing Ontario Northland bus service.
A ticketing platform will be available closer to launch so passengers can book travel in advance and access the lowest fares. More information about the Northlander’s fare structure is available on Ontario Northland.
The anticipated launch fares for the Northlander passenger rail service are listed below. These are standard one-way fares, with discounted rates available for:
- Seniors
- Students
- Military personnel
- Passengers travelling for medical purposes, as well as their attendants
| Route | Adult | Senior (65+) | Student | Child (2-12) |
| Toronto to Timmins to Cochrane | $188.40 | $160.14 | $160.14 | $94.20 |
| Toronto to Timmins | $181.67 | $154.42 | $154.42 | $90.84 |
| Toronto to North Bay | $109.70 | $93.25 | $93.25 | $54.85 |
| North Bay to Timmins | $108.94 | $92.60 | $92.60 | $54.47 |
| Toronto to Gravenhurst | $66.97 | $56.92 | $56.92 | $33.49 |
Additional Resources
- For information about the Northlander service, including proposed schedule, route and station locations, visit Ontario Northland.
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I wonder what the medical trip discount will be and also about whether or how the taxi fare standardization /adjustments may be applied in Toronto. The train comfort and accessibility may be much improved over bus. Another round of Open Houses would be welcome now that service is imminent. And yes now that the ownership of the section of rail has changed will CN be contracted to provide rail maintenance or whether the train operators will need to take it over.
The Northlander will service a population of about 175,000. The median individual income throughout that corridor is about $45,000 (what I would determine is “discretionary free income)
Each trip of the Northlander carries 169 seats. I estimate that the Northlander will do 44,000 “seat round trips” per year.
It is hard to see how the 85,000 people with discretionary income along that route will fill 44000 seats per year. And at that, the Northlander is expected to lose $145 million a year.
In my opinion, this is highly unsustainable. I give it 5 to 10 years at most. This is not “pessimistic; it is just realistic.
I think that if you believe in public transportation, the better, albeit less romantic and luxurious, alternative would have been to deepen the discount on the fares of an adequate bus service.
PS I rode the Northlander pre 2012, and the Liberals made the correct decision. IMHO
These fares are very reasonable and affordable. I’m impressed and excited. Well done!
With respect to the comment from the Hastie’s below, holy moly. Not a good look. The complaining is just too much sometimes. Be happy. This is good. It’s positive. I know it’s a win for your political opponents, so that requires that you frame it negatively, but its a win for all of Muskoka and East Parry Sound.
I am looking forward to this service. One big worry is scheduling, since freight priority on the lines has historically been a real problem. Wasting time sitting on a side-line certainly discourages use. The previously published schedle has Huntsville morning train leaving at 7:50 AM, arriving at Union at 10:55 with the return trip at 6:30 PM, arriving in Huntsville at 9:35 PM. Very civilized times. And, no it won’t work for everyone’s individual schedule, but seems decent. Assuming no long delays. Dependability will be their greatest challenge.
Excellent Northlander news. New trains should operate on excellent infrastructure. I walked a portion of the track north of Huntsville yesterday & will simply say “the tracks need work”.
A mediocre effort was done by CN a few years ago. Now that Ontario Northland/Ontario own this section of track priority should be upgrading the entire line.
These train fares are too expensive. While one person might use the train to get from Huntsville to Toronto and back, especially in one day, these fares will exclude family travel. Huntsville is a tòurist town. We should be encouraging couples and families from the city to come by train for vacations, and then have accessible inexpensive electric rental bikes and EVs at the station.
This whole process, including loss of our Huntsville railway station, has been so shortsighted and before long we will hear that the train service is costing too much as ridership is too low. It’s astounding that it is intended to cost more than the Ontario bus service.
Does train stop in Huntsville? 😊 thanks
Not too bad. Other considerations remain: what will be the finalized times for departing Huntsville/arriving Union (and the return; will it be practical timing to make connections or do a day’s business/appointments); will this be daily/year-round; will it run reliably on time; will customers be willing and able to afford the first/last mile price (from home to train platform/return)? Ah but it’s all up to us if it sinks or swims: “Ford said it will be “up to the customer to show the province and Ontario Northland that they want this train.”