Video & Photo Courtesy: Jason Harris
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in North Bay on April 9th to mark the latest phase of the return of Northlander passenger rail service connecting northern Ontario to the south.
“The Northlander is about more than transportation,” said Premier Ford. “It’s about connecting people to lifechanging opportunities and seniors to vital medical appointments. It’s about helping students getting home to their loved ones, boosting tourism, supporting small businesses across the north, and getting miners and skilled workers to their worksites.”
The province has released the anticipated 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.
| 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 |
The standard one-way fares have discounted rates available for seniors, students, military personnel, and passengers travelling for medical purposes, as well as their attendants. A news release states that the price is designed to be competitive and accessible, while reflecting the cost of operating a more reliable and consistent passenger rail service.
“The return of the Northlander is generating real excitement across Parry Sound—Muskoka thanks to Premier Ford and our government,” says Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound—Muskoka. “People across Muskoka have already started noticing trains on the tracks as testing continues ahead of the launch of passenger service later this year. Now, with fares released and testing moving along well, residents can start planning their first trip. This is great news for our region. It will help strengthen the local economy and give people another convenient option to travel south to Toronto or north to Timmins.”
Ontario Northland CEO Chad Evans said the province is nearing the completion of “burn-in” testing for the first trainset. The next phase of testing will involve staff aboard the train learning the systems. The other two trainsets will need to go through the same phases of testing later in the year. Evans said testing for all three trainsets will need to be completed before the province can announce an official launch date.
“This key phase of testing brings us yet another step closer to the new era of the Northlander. As we move into revenue service demonstration, Ontario Northland is focused on ensuring the equipment meets all safety and performance requirements and that staff are well-prepared to welcome passengers later this year,” says Evans.
“The return of Northlander service is definitely a good news story for our community,” said Heidi Lorenz, Mayor of the Town of Gravenhurst. “It means a reliable and affordable transportation choice for our residents, and it also represents a terrific travel option for people wanting to visit Gravenhurst. It’s exciting to see the progress being made and we look forward to regular service starting. On behalf of council and our community, I want to thank Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario for this investment.”
The Northlander will run between Toronto’s Union Station and Timmins, with 16 stops along a roughly 740-kilometre route and a rail connection to Cochrane. The trip is expected to take between 10 and 11 hours from end to end.
Not all locations were listed in today’s announcement, but the local 705 mayors are enthusiastic.
“This is an exciting milestone for the Northlander. Restoring passenger rail service is a significant step forward for communities like Bracebridge, improving access to transportation, supporting local tourism and strengthening connections to jobs, health care and opportunities across the region,” said Rick Maloney, Mayor of the Town of Bracebridge. “We look forward to welcoming this service back and the lasting benefits it will bring to our residents and visitors alike.”
“Access to destinations between Toronto and northeastern Ontario towns and cities is critical for the quality of life of residents along this important corridor,” agrees Nancy Alcock, Mayor of the Town of Huntsville. “The significant investment the province is making will ensure there is a reliable and timely service that connects communities and people. We are very excited that Huntsville will be one of the stops along the route and look forward to welcoming the Northlander in the near future.”
On top of re-establishing the train service, the province will be establishing a Northern Rideshare Framework to give municipalities the tools to support local rideshare services, as many local northern communities don’t have access to taxis, local transit or community transportation, making it harder for them to access Northlander stations.
The Northlander train service was discontinued in 2012 under the former Liberal government, which cited high operating costs and low ridership. At the time, then-premier Kathleen Wynne said the province would shift from rail to bus service.
For more information about the Northlander service, including proposed schedule, route and station locations, visit Ontario Northland.’
