First new Northlander train arrives as province moves closer to 2026 service return

Doug Ford speaking to reporters in Etobicoke on January 8, 2025 (CP24 photo).

The Ontario government says the first of three new Northlander trainsets has arrived, marking a major milestone in its plan to bring passenger rail service back to Northern Ontario nearly 14 years after it was cancelled in 2012.

The return of the Northlander will restore 740 kilometres of rail service with 16 stops between Toronto and Timmins, with a connection to Cochrane, a route the province says will reconnect northern communities and support jobs and economic growth.

Speaking to reporters in Etobicoke, Premier Doug Ford said previous governments “didn’t give two hoots about the north” and left communities stranded when the service was cut.

“The Northlander’s cancellation by the previous government stranded northern communities and the tens of thousands of riders who depended on it,” Ford said. “The Northlander is more than a train. It’s a lifeline to jobs, education, family and friends and so much more.”

Ford said the province is bringing the Northlander back and revealed that the train will return to service starting later this year, following testing.

“We’re going to focus on what we can do. And what we can do is produce great transportation to the north,” Ford said.

The trainset is currently undergoing testing and commissioning in Toronto before being moved north, where Ontario Northland will begin testing it along the corridor to ensure all systems meet safety and performance requirements. The province says the Northlander is expected to fully return to service in 2026.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the project is part of the province’s broader infrastructure plan.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is delivering on its promise to bring back the Northlander,” Sarkaria said, calling it a key part of Ontario’s long-term transit and highway investments.

The province says construction of the Timmins-Porcupine Station began in 2025, platform reconstruction and shelter installation contracts have been awarded along the corridor, and the North Bay Rail Bypass has been completed, cutting travel times by about 15 minutes.

Ford also tied the project to Ontario’s broader economic strategy, saying the province is investing more than $220 billion in infrastructure and positioning itself to withstand economic uncertainty.

“It’s a plan to build an Ontario that is more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant, so we can stand up to tariffs, economic uncertainty and anything else that comes our way,” Ford said.

Once in service, the Northlander will run from Toronto to Timmins with a connection to Cochrane. Each new Siemens trainset includes one locomotive and three passenger cars, with 169 seats, accessible washrooms, wide aisles, Wi-Fi, charging ports and LED lighting.

The government says Northern Ontario is home to more than 65,000 businesses and contributed $55.5 billion to Ontario’s GDP in 2024, and that the restored service will improve access to jobs, health care and education.