Ontario Northland completes key Northlander rail bypass

The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission continues to make significant progress toward the restoration of passenger rail service in northeastern Ontario, marking another milestone with the completion of a critical rail bypass in North Bay.

“The north deserves and requires a passenger rail service to get to and from wherever it is people need to go,” said Chad Evans, the chief executive officer of Ontario Northland, during a media briefing on Monday.

New North Bay bypass enhances efficiency

The provincial government announced the completion of a new 982-metre rail bypass, a project funded with a $5.7 million investment. This section connects the CN Newmarket subdivision to the mainline track on the Temagami Subdivision and is projected to reduce travel times to the North Bay station by about 15 minutes.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli emphasized the importance of reliable transportation alternatives for northern residents.

“We need people in Cochrane and Timmins to have viable alternatives to get to Toronto,” Fedeli told reporters Monday.

“Look at here in North Bay, starting in November, we used to have four Air Canada flights a day. We are going to be four a week.”

The bypass will allow the future Northlander passenger train to avoid the congested North Bay rail yard, ensuring a clearer path separate from active CN, Ottawa Valley Railway and Ontario Northland freight operations.

Manufacturing and testing phase underway

The restoration effort remains on schedule and within budget, according to officials with the project.

“We’re extremely proud as an organization to achieve these milestones,” said Alan Spacek, chairman of the Ontario Northland board of directors.

Three new train sets are currently in the manufacturing stage. The first complete set is expected to be delivered by Siemens Mobility Canada in early 2026, with the remaining two to follow shortly thereafter. Upon delivery, an extensive testing and commissioning process will be conducted collaboratively by Ontario Northland, Siemens Mobility Canada and Transport Canada.

“We run all the systems: the big ones, like the locomotive, the brakes we run, the little ones like the coffee maker and the washrooms and we make sure that it works,” Evans said.

This rigorous validation process is anticipated to take several months. A formal start date for passenger service will be announced only after its successful completion.

Service and affordability are key

The revived Northlander service will include 16 stops along its route from Toronto to Cochrane, with an estimated total travel time of four to five hours, including regular stops. Ontario Northland is currently finalizing ticket pricing and arrival-departure schedules. A fare strategy has been submitted to the Ministry of Transportation for review.

“We understand that passengers in the north want an affordable and accessible service and it’s with those principles that we’re going to price these tickets,” Evans said.

Infrastructure investments pave the way

The return of the Northlander is supported by a series of provincial infrastructure investments along the corridor.

In July 2025, a contract was awarded to build the Timmins-Porcupine Station, which will serve Northlander trains, motor coaches and Bus Parcel Express services.

The previous month, in June 2025, EllisDon was awarded a contract to reconstruct platforms and install pre-manufactured shelters at train stops from South River to Washago. This work was preceded by a December 2024 contract award for similar platform reconstruction and shelter installations from North Bay to Cochrane. Further back, in May 2024, three contracts were announced to design and manufacture nine new station shelters, enhance rail safety and complete warning system upgrades.

A new era for northern transportation

The project is expected to create 80 new jobs and its return is hailed as a top priority for the region.

The organization said it continues to work toward its goal of once again welcoming passengers aboard.

“I call this the new era,” said Evans.