The Government of Ontario and the Federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities have recently made headlines regarding announcements and discussions held on the topic of passenger rail in Northern Ontario. In March, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission purchased 205 kilometres of track between North Bay and Washago. The public now owns this strategic … Continue reading Trust in trains, government institutions requires public oversight
Washago
La transparence, un élément essentiel pour préserver la confiance dans nos institutions et nos trains
Le gouvernement de l’Ontario et le Comité permanent des transports, de l’infrastructure et des collectivités ont récemment fait les manchettes par rapport à des annonces et des discussions entourant les trains de passagers dans le Nord de l’Ontario. En début mars, la Commission de transport Ontario Northland a acheté 205 kilomètres de voie ferrée entre … Continue reading La transparence, un élément essentiel pour préserver la confiance dans nos institutions et nos trains
Success or failure depends how the Northlander is reintroduced
Psst. Have you heard the latest news about the Northlander? The Government of Ontario says it’s bringing it back in 2026. No gimmicks. No more of the same old song and dance. Sometime this year, Ontario Northland will reinstate passenger rail service between Timmins and Toronto. The return of this train has been one of … Continue reading Success or failure depends how the Northlander is reintroduced
Will transportation woes ever be fixed in Canada and Ontario?
Recent developments are a mixed bag for travellers The American industrialist and business magnate Henry Ford once responded “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do” when asked about his professional achievements. It's a fitting analogy to describe how Parliament Hill and Queen's Park continue to sputter when attempting to run, … Continue reading Will transportation woes ever be fixed in Canada and Ontario?
Functional rail service requires more than clever catch phrases and good intentions
Two steps forward, one step back. That’s how I’d describe the process of getting the Northlander once more on track. For nearly six years, the Ford government repeatedly stated they’re bringing back passenger rail to north-eastern Ontario. Political promises aplenty, the Tories haven’t exactly gotten the job done during their first term. Metrolinx and Ontario … Continue reading Functional rail service requires more than clever catch phrases and good intentions
Northlander train set order: A time to celebrate or remain vigilant?
The Government of Ontario may have finally taken its first real tangible step forward to make passenger rail service in the northeast a reality. The Associate Minister of Transportation, Stan Cho, and his ministerial colleagues — Victor Fedeli (MPP for Nipissing), George Pirie (Timmins) and Graydon Smith (Parry Sound-Muskoka) — were among those who announced … Continue reading Northlander train set order: A time to celebrate or remain vigilant?
The return of passenger rail is moving forward … at a snail’s pace
[ Englehart ONR Station ] If a political promise is made in Northern Ontario, but there's nobody around to see it through, does it still mean we get a passenger train back? The provincial government made an announcement regarding the return of passenger rail service between Timmins, North Bay and Toronto. On the surface, this … Continue reading The return of passenger rail is moving forward … at a snail’s pace
Smoke and mirrors checking the choo-choo tracks
There was a lot of hype and publicity surrounding Ontario Northland's most recent test train to measure transit times between North Bay and Toronto. For the first time in nine years, a passenger train operated on this route with the purpose of collecting data to support the ONR's latest business case for reintroducing passenger rail … Continue reading Smoke and mirrors checking the choo-choo tracks
VIA’s Canadian remains reliably unreliable
[ The Canadian nearing Washago ] For the first time in 15 months, a passenger train provided service to Northern communities situated between Winnipeg and Toronto. The Canadian, one of only three intercity passenger trains active in the region, made its first run through remote sections of Northern Ontario since the beginning of the pandemic. … Continue reading VIA’s Canadian remains reliably unreliable
Connecting the North : an exercise of consistently getting it wrong
[ Abandonned Northlander Tee-Train Fleet ] The Ministry of Transportation will be publishing sometime soon the results of a passenger rail survey it conducted in the region. The government claims this is an integral part of the process of keeping people safe, providing reliable transportation options and connecting communities in the North. Politicians of all … Continue reading Connecting the North : an exercise of consistently getting it wrong
