Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation

[Bordercollie]

The trainsets are going to layover in Cochrane. Once they get to Timmins-Porcupine the crew will change ends and go back through Porquis Junction north to Cochrane.

So they are really going to need all three trains to cycle to meet this schedule. I guess they could swap a VIA set if required?

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

So they are really going to need all three trains to cycle to meet this schedule. I guess they could swap a VIA set if required?

not necessarily. There's an almost 19 hour gap between when the northbound train arrives in the North and when it's needed again for the southbound trip. It is proposed to arrive at 0510h at Timmins-Porcupine and depart again at 0015h that's enough time to run the rail connection to Cochrane, park it, service it, rest the crew and run the southbound rail connection back to Timmins-Porcupine in time for the Southbound trip.

 

[micheal_can]

Both the ONTC and government have been coy about a Timmins-Cochrane connection,, but the ONR's Northlander project page reads:



The business case discusses an option of a 'shuttle' between Timmins and Cochrane, but they've not tendered for any equipment so would would have to do it with existing PBX equipment and crews, which seems unwieldy. I don't get the sense (although its not absolutely clear) that the new Timmins station will have provisions for turn-around maintenance, hotel power, etc. and it would mean a new operating base for both running crews and light maintenance staff. That's why I'm hanging my hat on the trainset connecting Timmins and Cochrane; turn a maintenance move into a revenue move.

Besides, if service is still slated to start mid-2026, I don't see the Timmins station finished by then.

I was talking to the train crew on the PBX when I took it last week. They basically stated that they may open the entire route and have some sort of temporary building while the station is being built.

 

[reaperexpress]

The trainsets are going to layover in Cochrane. Once they get to Timmins-Porcupine the crew will change ends and go back through Porquis Junction north to Cochrane.

Interesting. In that case, the timetable would look something like this:

The southbound connection in Cochrane seems a bit tight given the potential for significant delays, so it looks like the Polar Bear Express timetable would ideally be shifted about a half hour earlier.

 

[Bordercollie]

Interesting. In that case, the timetable would look something like this:

View attachment 703922

The southbound connection in Cochrane seems a bit tight given the potential for significant delays, so it looks like the Polar Bear Express timetable would ideally be shifted about a half hour earlier.

How many crews? One from Cochrane to North Bay and then North Bay to Toronto?

 

[nfitz]

That's assuming that Siemens gets to build the LD fleet. Considering that they are looking at mandating Canadian content it may go to another manufacturer.

If the spec for the long-distance cars doesn't include the ability to attach cars to other types of cars, then there's bigger problem at VIA! They've been mixing and matching equipment for over a half-century (since day 1).

 

[Bordercollie]

If the spec for the long-distance cars doesn't include the ability to attach cars to other types of cars, then there's bigger problem at VIA! They've been mixing and matching equipment for over a half-century (since day 1).

Times have changed.
Before all they had was a 16pin connector.

Today the software for each manufacturer is different.

Do you think you can take a BMW and a Mercedes and swap components? Or combine them and put it in a Toyota? It doesn't work like that anymore.

 

[lenaitch]

I was talking to the train crew on the PBX when I took it last week. They basically stated that they may open the entire route and have some sort of temporary building while the station is being built.

It could work with a couple of ATCO trailers or something so long as the passengers, parking, etc. didn't encroach on a construction site.

 

[cplchanb]

If the spec for the long-distance cars doesn't include the ability to attach cars to other types of cars, then there's bigger problem at VIA! They've been mixing and matching equipment for over a half-century (since day 1).

passenger trains =/= mixed freigh train consists. they should be assembled as 1 trainset instead of being a hodgepodge of different old and new. Even developing countries get this better than us.

 

[smallspy]

Times have changed.
Before all they had was a 16pin connector.

Today the software for each manufacturer is different.

Do you think you can take a BMW and a Mercedes and swap components? Or combine them and put it in a Toyota? It doesn't work like that anymore.

Please stop.

It's evident that you're out of your depth here. Components have and can be made compatible, or identical with each other. It just depends on the spec.

Dan

 

[micheal_can]

How many crews? One from Cochrane to North Bay and then North Bay to Toronto?

I was told by the PBX crew the plan is to staff it out of Englehart. So, the current plan is Englehart and Toronto.

It could work with a couple of ATCO trailers or something so long as the passengers, parking, etc. didn't encroach on a construction site.

That is something that they are either looking at now, or will in the spring once they know when the station will be completed.

 

[Allandale25]

Captured in Lombard, IL. Posted today.

 

[APTA-2048]

Captured in Lombard, IL. Posted today.

A friend just spotted it in Burlington.

 

[Bordercollie]

A friend just spotted it in Burlington.

Is it going to TMC or North Bay?

 

[Mind_the_gap]

Is it going to TMC or North Bay?

My understanding was TMC since these are identical to the VIA sets.