Ontario’s new Associate Minister of Transportation, Vijay Thanigasalam came to North Bay Friday to see the operations at Ontario Northland.
During the tour, Thanigasalam had the opportunity to see the work being done on the Metrolinx and Ontario Northland’s $109 million contract to refurbishment of 56 Go Transit bi-level coached coaches at the Remanufacturing and Repair Centre. The refurbishment work for this contract started in 2022 and is anticipated to be completed by late 2025.
“It is important for our Associate Minister of Transportation to see the investments made in Ontario Northland to strengthen the manufacturing sector in northern Ontario while continuing to support high quality, good paying jobs for the people that live here,” said Fedeli.
In addition to touring the ONR shops, the Minister also met with members of the ONTC board and management team for an update on the return of passenger rail to northern Ontario. Three new trainsets, at $139.5 million, have been bought as part of the plan to bring back northeastern passenger rail services.
Once reinstated, northeastern passenger rail service will be offered from four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands says a news release.
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission’s Northlander Passenger Train discontinued service in 2012.
In April 2022 Ontario Northland Transportation Commission released the Updated Initial Business Case which included a preferred route from Toronto to Timmins with a rail connection to Cochrane.
By 2041, annual ridership is currently estimated to be between approximately 40,000 and 60,000.
Detailed design will focus on the route that includes 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.
