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
When will the Northlander return to service?
Political tango on passenger rail
Province's plan remains short on critical details Former U.S. president Ronald Reagan once said: “If politics were a musical, it would be Promises, Promises”. When you consider how often the Ford government has pledged to bring back the Northlander passenger train, it's kind of astounding a Broadway musical marking its imminent return to service hasn’t … Continue reading Political tango on passenger rail
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?
Carrot dangling the return of train service
[ Ontario Northland Test Train near Powassan ] Is the government truly committed to "Get it done"? "To the people of Northeastern Ontario, you have my word. We will bring the Northlander back to Timmins and Cochrane" said Premier Ford during his swearing-in ceremony at Queen's Park this summer. Folks, this could only mean one … Continue reading Carrot dangling the return of train service
The politics and precarious nature of travel in the North
The familiar sound of a passenger train can once again be heard in areas of Northern Ontario that are served by VIA Rail Canada. The Crown corporation officially restored passenger rail services to pre-pandemic levels after more than two years of on again, off again, limited or indefinitely suspended train schedules. Life appears to have … Continue reading The politics and precarious nature of travel in the North
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
Double standards in the deployment and delivery of train service
Northerners are once again finding themselves taking a back seat to the transportation interests and concerns of politicians in Southern Ontario. The Ministry of Transportation very recently unveiled a pilot project for GO Train service between Toronto and London — by way of Kitchener, Stratford and St Mary's. The trial runs are expected to cost … Continue reading Double standards in the deployment and delivery of train service
Missing the mark on the North’s passenger rail plan
[ Former Porquis Junction ONR Shelter ] The Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Northland have finally unveiled an Initial Business Case for passenger rail in Northeastern Ontario ... and it's about time the public was provided with an update. It only took a mere three years into the current government's term (and a freedom of … Continue reading Missing the mark on the North’s passenger rail plan
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
