Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation

[lenaitch]

It could be something identified that some crossings need some sort of upgrading.

No kidding.

 

[micheal_can]

No kidding.

It could have also just been part of the normal rotation of identifying things to upgrade. The challenge is anything that is done between the announcement of the return of the Northlander and the time it is running could be just assumed it is for that, but it might not be.

 

[lenaitch]

It could have also just been part of the normal rotation of identifying things to upgrade. The challenge is anything that is done between the announcement of the return of the Northlander and the time it is running could be just assumed it is for that, but it might not be.

Maybe only a "challenge" for those breathlessly hanging off every morsel of information as evidence that 'the train is coming, the train is coming'. They do operate about 1000km of track.

 

[micheal_can]

Maybe only a "challenge" for those breathlessly hanging off every morsel of information as evidence that 'the train is coming, the train is coming'. They do operate about 1000km of track.

The train is not coming back until it is actually back....

 

[Allandale25]

Media article from February 14th:

ONTC chairman reports progress on trainsets for return of Northlander - My Kap-Hearst Now

The chairman of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission says the Northlander is definitely on track for its return in 2026. Al Spacek provided an update on the progress that’s being […]

www.mykaphearstnow.com

The chairman of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission says the Northlander is definitely on track for its return in 2026. Al Spacek provided an update on the progress that’s being made to date including the train sets. He says the commission was able to tag onto an order from Via Rail or there may have longer timelines.

“We are now getting close to the manufacturer of the rolling stock that is required,” he said. “You can appreciate there are a number of steps whether to make sure the tracks are in top shape for this or the safety attributes that have to be place for this reintroduction of this service. All of this is going well.”

Spacek says engineering and geo-technical work continues on the new terminus in Porcupine, and once it’s complete they hope to release drawings on the terminal to the public for input.

Spacek adds the support for the Northlander has been tremendous.

“No matter what community it was whether it was north of North Bay or South of North Bay people are very excited about the return of the Northlander and the opportunities it will present for passenger travel,” he said.

 

[nfitz]

I believe Metrolinx has some involvement in this, so presumably they'll have the trains, years before the stations and track are ready for service.

 

[lenaitch]

I believe Metrolinx has some involvement in this, so presumably they'll have the trains, years before the stations and track are ready for service.

How so?

 

[nfitz]

Didn't we discuss this further up the thread, back in 2021 or so? Metrolinx's involvement was laid out in the Initial Business Case.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

I believe Metrolinx has some involvement in this, so presumably they'll have the trains, years before the stations and track are ready for service.

??

CN is doing the passing tracks on their own segments of track, stations are in procurement (as outlined in this thread). Metrolinx helped plan the service, ONTC is executing the various contracts to get it done. All is on schedule so far.

 

[nfitz]

??

CN is doing the passing tracks on their own segments of track, stations are in procurement (as outlined in this thread). Metrolinx helped plan the service, ONTC is executing the various contracts to get it done. All is on schedule so far.

Is this the only thread that one can't make Metrolinx jokes?

 

[micheal_can]

Is this the only thread that one can't make Metrolinx jokes?

After over a century of the line belonging to the wrong ministry, the mess ups of Metrolinx is welcomed.

 

[C_Johnson_1995]

Media article from February 14th:

ONTC chairman reports progress on trainsets for return of Northlander - My Kap-Hearst Now

The chairman of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission says the Northlander is definitely on track for its return in 2026. Al Spacek provided an update on the progress that’s being […]

www.mykaphearstnow.com

2026? Perhaps there is still time to avert this disaster.

I feel I'm a voice in the wilderness on this, but busses are more than adequate on this corridor. For the money the government will spend on this, you could have hourly busses between Timmins and Toronto which will make the journey faster. The BCR spells out carrying out this project is worse than doing nothing.

Even worse, as seen in a previous article, this will be cross subsidized by freight, which will hurt the financial viability of ONR. ONR's freight profits should be reinvested in freight, not propping up a Ford-government vanity project.

Northlander passenger rail service will be funded by freight contracts

More freight in the works for northern Ontario, Pirie says

www.timminspress.com

 

[dowlingm]

2026? Perhaps there is still time to avert this disaster.

Seems unlikely. The Tories are committed and the opposition will likely “take the pledge” in defence of Tory charges that a change in government will abandon the North. That said, sometime in the late 2020s there may be three broken-in Siemens sets available for offers, and depending on a new government’s approach to continuing the current HFR/HSR process, VIA might need those to meet Corridor demand

 

[micheal_can]

2026? Perhaps there is still time to avert this disaster.

I feel I'm a voice in the wilderness on this, but busses are more than adequate on this corridor. For the money the government will spend on this, you could have hourly busses between Timmins and Toronto which will make the journey faster. The BCR spells out carrying out this project is worse than doing nothing.

Even worse, as seen in a previous article, this will be cross subsidized by freight, which will hurt the financial viability of ONR. ONR's freight profits should be reinvested in freight, not propping up a Ford-government vanity project.

Northlander passenger rail service will be funded by freight contracts

More freight in the works for northern Ontario, Pirie says

www.timminspress.com

I am guessing you will never be served by this service.
I am guessing you have never ridden the buses in winter on this route.

 

[lenaitch]

2026? Perhaps there is still time to avert this disaster.

I feel I'm a voice in the wilderness on this, but busses are more than adequate on this corridor. For the money the government will spend on this, you could have hourly busses between Timmins and Toronto which will make the journey faster. The BCR spells out carrying out this project is worse than doing nothing.

Even worse, as seen in a previous article, this will be cross subsidized by freight, which will hurt the financial viability of ONR. ONR's freight profits should be reinvested in freight, not propping up a Ford-government vanity project.

"Disaster" might be a bit over-the-top.

What funding for freight do you see as currently lacking? Their motive power seems decent, ROW condition suitable for freight operations, customer base seems reasonably solid.