First of three Northlander trainsets arrives with testing underway
Northlander passenger rail service is getting closer to pulling into The Station in North Bay.
The first of three new Northlander trainsets has arrived in Toronto.
Premier Doug Ford says the train is undergoing testing and will head north afterwards for Ontario Northland to put it through further ‘rigorous’ testing along the route.
He says they’ll be making sure they’re working safely and efficiently before taking on passengers later this year.
“What I understand is they’re going to run these trains back and forth to make sure they hold up in the cold weather, and the snowy weather and the climate in the north,” says Ford.
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, meantime, is calling the arrival of the first trainset a major milestone in the restoration of passenger rail service between Timmins and Toronto.
Dave Plourde, FONOM President. says the project reflects years of advocacy by Northern municipalities and meaningful partnership with Ontario Northland and the province, all working toward a shared goal of reconnecting communities.
“For our municipalities, the Northlander is about connection—connecting residents to jobs, health care, education, and economic opportunities—while also providing a safer, more reliable alternative to long-distance highway travel, especially during Northern winters,” he says.
Chad Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Northland, says having experience running bus and passenger rail services and collaborating with partners like VIA Rail is supporting their efforts on a fair pricing strategy.
“We understand that affordable transportation is a priority for those travelling on the future Northlander service,’ he says. “We’re working on a fair strategy launch.”
Evans says details will be announced closer to their service launch date.
Details on the proposed schedule for the new Northlander were made public last month.
**With files from Brad Aubin
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
