just east of the creek
Senior Member
That would be truly amazing. Well done. And as you say, another story for another thread.
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Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation
- Thread starter CDL.TO
- Start date
lenaitch
Senior Member
The National Transcontinental Railway (the straight line between Quebec City and Winnipeg) was pretty much unprofitable from the day it opened. "Across the wilderness" was part of the problem. I have read that the only profitable service was live silk from the orient. It also didn't help that it opened just before the start of WWI.
DatTranzitGuy
Active Member
Construction work on Station Road beginning March 5
The Town of Huntsville is advising residents that Ontario Northland will be performing construction work on St...
www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca
NorthernTracks
New Member
Could the Northlander be back on Muskoka rails before fall? Time and Mother Nature will tell
The shelter project, scheduled for completion by July 2026, involves ground thawing, generator use, and installation of amenities
www.muskokaregion.com
micheal_can
Senior Member
https://www.facebook.com/groups/153657183399/
Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte Nebraska,
At 11:49 the cameras spotted the arrival and crew change of Northlander Siemens set #2 on it's delivery trip from Sacramento California March 7th.
Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte Nebraska,
At 11:49 the cameras spotted the arrival and crew change of Northlander Siemens set #2 on it's delivery trip from Sacramento California March 7th.
NorthernTracks
New Member
New passenger train petition targets federal and provincial governments
CAPT thinks the timing is right to get the federal and provincial governments onboard to invest in the north’s passenger train service.
www.saultstar.com
Bordercollie
Senior Member
So the Canadian that ran on the CP line served the Sault. Could they extend the White River train to the Sault?New passenger train petition targets federal and provincial governments
CAPT thinks the timing is right to get the federal and provincial governments onboard to invest in the north’s passenger train service.
crs1026
Superstar
New passenger train petition targets federal and provincial governments
CAPT thinks the timing is right to get the federal and provincial governments onboard to invest in the north’s passenger train service.
I wish them well, but anybody who thinks that a revival of a Oba-SSM passenger train moves the needle on provincial or federal thinking about passenger trains generally may be missing a point or two....
- Paul
reaperexpress
Senior Member
"Northland Ontario (sic) got a train that makes no financial sense, why don't we get one too?"New passenger train petition targets federal and provincial governments
CAPT thinks the timing is right to get the federal and provincial governments onboard to invest in the north’s passenger train service.
crs1026
Superstar
It did not, ever. SSM-Sudbury had its own train, a RDC from about 1966 onwards. It connected with the Canadian at Sudbury.
Rerouting the White River train down the old Algoma Central to SSM is technically feasible (with a little track construction) , but would be hard to justify as a) the schedule would be at an awkward hour b) it would adversely affect anyone wanting to use that train east of Franz on its current route and c) it would adversely affect anyone wanting to travel all the way to Sudbury, as their trip would be many hours longer.
A creative idea, but, no.
- Paul
reaperexpress
Senior Member
The whole reason the Sudbury-White River train exists at all is that it connects small communities along the CPKC mainline that have no road connection to the rest of Canada. If it were just about connecting Sudbury to White River the train would have been cancelled a long time ago - there's already an Ontario Northland bus service that connects those cities faster than the train anyway (with a transfer in Sault Ste Marie). So rerouting the train anywhere else would already be a non starter regardless of the travel time from White River to Sudbury.
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lenaitch
Senior Member
Made necessary when Canadian was shifted to CN.
The Sudbury-White River service exists as part of VIA's remote and regional mandate. Divert it to the Soo and it no longer fulfills that mandate and I see no desire from the government for expanding VIA services.
I'm ever curious what ridership they think there would be between SSM and Oba. The only two communities on the line are Hawk Junction (pop 140) and Dubreuilville (575), both on roads. According to Wiki, Oba itself has a population of five. It does pass within 25km of Wawa (2700). The only folks that were really impacted by the cancellation of the passenger service were the remote hunting and fishing lodges, and they seem to have adjusted. The article says the line passes through a "First Nations Territory". While it could be considered to pass through traditional territory, I'm not aware that it passes through an actual FN community (i.e. Reserve).
I had to laugh at the claim that a restored passenger train would enable east-west connection with Canadian at Oba. Even if the train schedules could be coordinated, given Canadian's notorious on time performance, I can't image waiting at Oba for a connection.
ShonTron
Moderator
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Oba mostly exists as a minor CN service point.
I’ve been on the ACR remote service before it shut down. It was used entirely by snowmobilers and people headed to their cabins or out for back country hunting, and myself and a friend, getting in the ride while we could.
seanmarshall.ca
Honestly, I don’t think there’s an absolute necessity for the White River service anymore if the ACR was no longer a necessity. The only community of any significant size that would lose service is Chapleau.
I’ve been on the ACR remote service before it shut down. It was used entirely by snowmobilers and people headed to their cabins or out for back country hunting, and myself and a friend, getting in the ride while we could.
Passenger trains of Northern Ontario
Southbound Northlander train arriving at Gravenhurst, March 2012 In a few weeks, I will travel from Toronto to Thunder Bay by bus and by train, stopping at cities and towns like Sudbury, Chapleau, …
seanmarshall.ca
Honestly, I don’t think there’s an absolute necessity for the White River service anymore if the ACR was no longer a necessity. The only community of any significant size that would lose service is Chapleau.
NorthernTracks
New Member
There are a few other local service boards: Heyden (N/A), Jogues (214) and Searchmont (445), but as you said previously with Hawk Jct & Dubreuilville, they are connected by the provincial highway system. There are no First Nations communities directly situated on the line, though Michipicoten FN (which also has road access) is situated nearby Wawa, and Constance Lake FN west of Hearst.
micheal_can
Senior Member
It would have the same appeal that the Northlander is bringing that most 'big city folks' cannot understand.
Oba mostly exists as a minor CN service point.
I’ve been on the ACR remote service before it shut down. It was used entirely by snowmobilers and people headed to their cabins or out for back country hunting, and myself and a friend, getting in the ride while we could.
Passenger trains of Northern Ontario
Southbound Northlander train arriving at Gravenhurst, March 2012 In a few weeks, I will travel from Toronto to Thunder Bay by bus and by train, stopping at cities and towns like Sudbury, Chapleau, …
Honestly, I don’t think there’s an absolute necessity for the White River service anymore if the ACR was no longer a necessity. The only community of any significant size that would lose service is Chapleau.
Let's say you own a tourist camp that is served by this train. When they shut it down, after it being in existence in some form or another for over 100 years, how would customers get to your business?