ST. THOMAS, Ontario — One week after the GIO Railway Corp. ran the final train on one Ontario short line, it debuted on another route.
On Christmas Eve, Canadian National’s Cayuga Subdivision saw its first train since April 30, 2020, when Ontario Southland discontinued operation on the 30-mile line between St. Thomas and Courtland, Ontario. After brush clearing and installation of a few thousand ties, ex-CP GP9u No. 1597, a lease unit from Lambton Diesel Specialists wearing GIO colors, made a light-power move from St. Thomas to Tillsonburg, Ont., where GIO President Gerry Gionet was on hand with employees to mark the occasion.
Gionet said he will be working with local newspapers to inform communities of the line’s plans, including customers it will serve, in coming weeks, and anticipates service beginning in the new year. Service east of Tillsonburg to Courtland is not part of the initial operating plan but could be added if business warrants. The line is leased from CN.
Gionet, founder of GIO Rail Holdings, purchased the Trillium Railway from its prior owners, the Ettinger family, and became Trillium’s president in 2016. The Trillium Railway primarily operates in the Niagara region and the company name has since been merged into GIO Holdings. Trillium operated the Cayuga Subdivision under the name St. Thomas & Eastern beginning in 1998, but closed the line in December 2013. Ontario Southland then operated part of the Cayuga Subdivision under contract with CN from 2014 until April 2020.
— Updated at 8:15 a.m. CST with additional details on initial service plans.
