Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
Northlander passenger rail service will return to service later this year, following several months of rigorous testing now taking place along the entire route from Cochrane and Timmins to Union Station in Toronto.
“For the first time in 14 years, the Northlander is back in Northern Ontario,” said Premier Doug Ford. “When it returns to service later this year, the Northlander will connect people across Northern Ontario . . . while strengthening local towns and industries along the entire route, creating good jobs and economic growth across the north for years to come.”
“Burn-in” testing on the first trainset, which has travelled more than 1,600 kilometres in conditions that simulate regular service. During the next phase of testing, Ontario Northland will train staff on the equipment, run emergency exercises, test schedules and make sure all safety and operating systems are working properly along the full Northlander route. This phase will simulate normal operations, including station stops and announcements, before the line opens to the public.
The second trainset will soon begin testing and commissioning along the Northlander corridor. A confirmed return-to-service date will be announced in the coming months as testing continues. Fares are expected to be about 10 per cent above the standard rate of travel on the existing Ontario Northland bus service.
The Northlander will travel 740 kilometres between Timmins and Toronto, with a rail connection to Cochrane, for a total of 16 stops.
More than $100 million in rail infrastructure has been added north of North Bay to support the return of rail service.
Northern Ontario is home to more than 65,000 local businesses, contributing more than $55.5 billion to Ontario’s GDP in 2024. Ontario is investing $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in North America.
“FONOM is pleased to see continued progress toward the return of the Northlander, an essential service for northeastern Ontario communities,” said Dave Plourde, president, Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM). “We are also encouraged by the province’s exploration of a rideshare pilot, including partnerships with providers like Uber, to support first- and last-mile connections. Reliable access to and from stations will be key to the service’s success.”