NORTH BAY, Ontario — The Ontario government announced today it will purchase three new sets of passenger train equipment from Siemens as part of its plan to reinstate service in the northeastern part of the province.
“This is a significant step forward in bringing back the rail service that northerners deserve,” said Stan Cho, the province’s associate minister of transportation, in a press release. “The reinstated Northlander train will support our northern industries and resource sectors and provide a safe and reliable transportation option for Northern communities, especially in the winter months. This purchase demonstrates real progress, as we continue to take concrete steps to build a better transportation network for the north.”
The C$139.5 million purchase is part of an effort to address a transportation void that has existed since Ontario Northland’s Northlander service between Toronto and Cochrane, Ont., was discontinued in 2012. Currently, the route is served by four daily buses between Toronto and North Bay, and one or two buses daily to Timmins and Cochrane.
Chad Evans, interim president and CEO of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, called it “a key next step to support the Province and Ontario Northland’s target of a mid-2020s in-service date for reinstating Northeastern Passenger Rail.”
Locomotives for the trains will meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards. Renderings provided with the announcement show a trainset with a locomotive, two coaches and a cab-car coach.
“As we continue to build on opportunities in Canada, we are proud to provide people of Northern Ontario with our most advanced technology allowing them to connect more easily and efficiently while enjoying the greatest comfort,” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, CEO of Siemens Mobility in Canada.
Planning is calling for a route to include 16 stops: Toronto Union Station, Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins and Cochrane.
“These communities need another affordable transportation option that connects them to the rest of the province and provides access to goods and services in other regions,” said George Pirie, Ontario’s minister of mines and provincial parliament member representing Timmins. “This is an essential transportation corridor in northern Ontario that supports the entire economy because the movement of people and workers is critical for the resource sectors including mining and forestry.”
1. Does “Locomotives for the trains will meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards.” have any meaning in Canada?
2. The track was removed between South Porcupine and Timmins decades ago. The “Timmins” station may be in Porcupine which appears to be 11 km away. ONTC does have a fleet of buses.
How is it that both Cochran and Timmins will be served? The latter is at the end of a 33-mile branch, of which the outer ten miles have been ripped out.
Sure hope they have done proper testing for the elements, it gets very cold and harsh weather once they go that far North.
One of the few holes in my personal map is not riding the Northlander back-in-the-day. Nevertheless, isn’t this Siemens thing getting monotonous?
What about food service car for people too eat and drink?? What kind of seats?
Well, now don’t confuse a promise with an action. That would be very unpolitical.
And when are the trainsets supposed to be delivered?