Province buys 205 km of railway to boost Ontario Northlander service

Ontario buys 205 km of rail line from CN Rail to further revive Northlander passenger service, ensuring reliable travel and job growth in the North.

The Ontario government has acquired 205 kilometres of railway between North Bay and Washago, as it moves forward with a plan to bring back Northlander passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario.

The $138 million purchase was completed in late February, the province said in a news release March 13.

The deal “secures a dedicated rail corridor that will improve on-time performance and reliability, create good-paying jobs and drive economic growth across the north,” the release said.

“While passenger rail service will be prioritized on the track, the acquisition will also support timely freight rail traffic, with freight revenues directed back to the provincial Crown corporation Ontario Northland.”

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the purchase is a “pivotal step” in bringing the train back into service.

“This investment will prioritize passenger service by supporting fast, reliable service along the line,” Sarkaria said in the release.

The land purchase also allows the province “to maintain critical rail infrastructure that improves both passenger and freight service along the corridor.”

Passenger and freight trains

In addition, it will streamline freight operations in North Bay, where freight trains were previously disassembled, transferred onto CN track and reassembled before continuing south.

“The acquisition of a connected rail corridor between North Bay and Washago marks another important milestone in the long-awaited restoration of the Northlander passenger rail service,” Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said in the release.

“We look forward to seeing how this new era of connection and opportunity takes shape, delivering on our government’s plan to restore safe and reliable service to families across Ontario’s northern communities.”

The service is expected to resume this year. The first Northlander trainset has already arrived and more than $100 million in infrastructure upgrades have been completed, including the construction of the North Bay Rail Bypass.

Once complete, the Northlander will travel 740 kilometres between Timmins and Toronto, with a rail connection to Cochrane, for a total of 16 stops.

The 205-kilometre acquisition represents more than 25 per cent of the rail corridor along which the Northlander will operate.

The money spent restoring the Northlander is part of $70 billion Ontario is spending on what it calls the largest transit expansion in North America.