Santa Claus Express back on track

The Santa Claus Express is back on track.

Further information is included in the following news release from the Ontario Northland Railway:

Ontario Northland's 2005 Santa Claus Express is back on track! Thousands
of children from communities throughout Northeastern Ontario and
Northwestern Quebec will be able to ride the train to the North Pole for a
visit with Santa Claus thanks to a unique and cooperative arrangement
between Ontario Northland, the Ontario Northland Benefit Association and
three employee unions.

"We're very excited to be able to run the Santa Claus Express this year and
offer children throughout the region an opportunity to ride the train and
visit with Santa Claus," said Steve Carmichael, President and CEO of
Ontario Northland.

"I'm very proud of the way the employees of Ontario Northland have rallied around the Santa Claus Express to make sure that it runs this year. It's a testament to our commitment to the communities in which we live."

The Santa Claus Express runs in 13 communities across Northeastern Ontario
and Northwestern Quebec, on weekends in November and December and is
operated by Ontario Northland in partnership with local community groups
and volunteers. To date, 11 of these communities have confirmed their
intent to participate again this year. Nearly 5,000 children enjoy their
train ride to the North Pole and their visit with Santa Claus each year.

Direct participation by volunteers from the Canadian Auto Workers Union -
Local 103 (CAW), the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Division 723
(TCRC), and the United Transportation Union – Local 1161 (UTU), will enable
the trains to operate over the entire region, with Ontario Northland having
only to incur the expense of the fuel to operate the locomotives.

“The Santa Claus Express is part of the Northern culture and as employees,
we’re very happy to be able to volunteer our time and provide the resources
that will allow Ontario Northland, in partnership with many community
groups, to run the train this year,” said Phil Koning, President of the
Ontario Northland’s General Chairpersons Association, representing all of
Ontario Northland’s unionized employees.

Members from the CAW will maintain and clean the equipment, while the TCRC Locomotive Engineers will operate the locomotives. UTU Conductors will be on board the train, alongside the many community group volunteers, and together they will oversee the safety of the children on the train. The
Ontario Northland Benefit Association will underwrite other related costs.

The 2005 Santa Claus Express had been cancelled as part of cost saving
measures implemented by Ontario Northland to offset reduced revenues
resulting from a strike at one of the Company's major rail freight clients,
the Kidd Creek Mine.