It’s been said that in life, there are three constants: job insecurity, taxes, and governments’ inability to provide or reinstate passenger rail in Northern Ontario within a timely manner.
Procrastinating politicians, routine cancellations, and the use of rolling stock well past its best before date are just some of the issues that continue to inconvenience travellers in this part of the country.
The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present, so let’s dive right in.
Ontario Northland
It’s Groundhog Day all over again at Queen’s Park.
For the third time in seven years, the Ford government has pledged to bring back the Northlander.
It’s practically become a tradition for the provincial Tories to rinse and repeat the same announcement when re-entering office.
Sure, there’s been some progress made since first promising to reintroduce passenger rail to the Northeast way back in 2018.
New trainsets are currently being manufactured. Ontario Northland is improving its rail network so travel speeds are competitive.
However several important questions remain unanswered:
- Will the Northlander have priority access on the privately owned Canadian National Railway south of North Bay?
- Will the train face the same delays plaguing VIA Rail’s new fleet when entering any of CN’s railroad crossings?
- What’s the province’s plan to ensure passengers have practical last mile connections to their final destination?
- When will construction begin on the Timmins-Porcuping station?
- When will shelters, destined for Almaguin, Muskoka and Timiskaming regions, be installed?
- Finally, why is the government turning away potential riders in Beaverton; a community that has publically expressed interest in having a stop?
The Northlander will relaunch in about a year’s time. Success or failure largely depends on attracting passengers. Attracting them is strongly influenced by whether decision makers choose to properly address concerns like these, or bury their heads in the sand.
VIA Rail
If the hallmark of excellence is consistency, the now former Trudeau Liberal government deserves a failing grade for leaving VIA Rail in a decayed state.
It’s bad enough when trains arrive several hours late. Customers have to fend for themselves, often waiting in front of closed or boarded up stations.
But when recurring equipment failure is the reason for interrupting rail service, then the Government of Canada isn’t fulfilling its obligation to provide public transportation in federally mandated areas like Northern Ontario.
During the month of April (2025), the Sudbury-White River train — which connects some 40 communities, First Nations and otherwise inaccessible settlements — was cancelled no less than 12 times due to mechanical issues that couldn’t be repaired quickly.
These 70+ year old train sets are understandably nearing the end of their useful life. Previously reported concerns include:
- problems with the transmission;
- overheating equipment;
- malfunctioning fan motors;
- and pieces of sheet metal falling off the undercarriage.
Yet on this route, VIA Rail doesn’t have any backup equipment on standby. Therefore the company doesn’t provide alternate transportation — which causes a great deal of stress for transit users and tourists alike who sometimes book their tickets weeks, if not months in advance.
Northerners can’t be expected to board passenger trains that don’t operate as intended, let alone don’t show up.
Five people have held the position of Minister of Transport during the last four years. Do you expect me to believe not one of them was briefed on the equipment situation?
If the Budd Car manages to survive the next decade approximately when VIA Rail anticipates replacing its antiquated fleet, the train needs to be extended west to the City of Thunder Bay along the existing CPKC tracks.
White River, a township of 550, is not an appropriate terminus point.
In the meantime, the newly elected Carney government unveiled the Canada Strong Pass initiative. It’ll provide Canadian families and youth with free or discounted travel aboard VIA Rail during the summer.
They too can now discover the joys of having the rug pulled out from under them while waiting eleven hours to board in front a broken-down station.
“You’ll love taking the train. Leave your car at home and climb aboard!”
Why choose VIA Rail indeed …
Éric Boutilier is a columnist for Northern Tracks , a self-published blog related to
intercity transportation in Northern Ontario.
Negativity seems to be very popular these days, including those individuals that remind us time and time again regarding negative comments.
Thank You Brian Tapley for your constructive comments with a welcome breath of positive comments..
I can almost hear the BIA and the downtown merchants opposing situating a bus/train station on this property I think maybe in part already owned by the town and or Kimberly Clarke.
Back in day when the current Huntsville library was in the planning, the relocating from the downtown core was much opposed, that’s why it remained at the Minerva Street location.
Yes in my opinion Brian you are correct, where are all the Huntsville Councillors & Mayor in striving to remedy the train and bus stations situation?And all you residents and taxpayers instead of complaining, & dwelling on negativity instill some positivity in yourselves and follow Brian Tapley’s example in a solution into solving a new home for a bus and train terminal.
John R. Earl, Aspdin
Since we gave away the old train station in Huntsville for a dollar, the train can’t stop there now. Maybe it could and maybe the smoking hot BBQ would be an attraction??
But seriously, we need a train and bus station in Huntsville that actually works.
I’m wondering, is there room out in the area behind Walmart where the train starts to turn to run under highway 11 to put a station there?
It could be pretty small but advantages would be that is is currently sort of undeveloped.
It is level land and easy access to the hotels and stores of Commerce Park.
The bus and train stations could be easily combined into one, share the costs, form a bit of a transportation hub here.
If suitable bit of land could be found and a double track added with a platform it would seem to me to be almost ideal in all regards.
Any political folks like to comment on this idea? Where are our town planners on this issue? Maybe another area might work but with the road access and hotels and restaurants and of course Walmart all in this area it comes to my mind “who could ask for anything more”. It is just a short walk to Home depot and Fairvern too.
If you buy one of the new 600 or so homes being built in the area you could walk to the stores you need, to the train or bus etc. Is this not what the government is trying to achieve??? Again, come on planners, wade into this pool with some ideas. All I hear is nothing.
Since the train service depends on tax dollars, maybe the anti-tax culture needs to be reflected upon. Infrastructure depends on tax dollars. Period.
The negativity of some is mind-boggling. Thanks Doug for getting g the train back o the track. Looking forward to first trip !
Spot on. New rail cars are nice but when the train has to stop because of CP or CN freight and the train doesn’t arrive on time it is doomed to failure. This is where the governments must focus on: gaining agreement that people are as important as freight. I loved taking the train but a last straw for us was when the train had to stop just minutes from union and my daughters father was waiting to greet her. It was at least an hour delay. This is why the Northlander failed: no reliability.
When and where will the new Huntsville station be built.?