NORTHLANDER ‘IS COMING BACK’ AND ‘NO DOUBT IT WILL BE SUCCESS,’ TOUTS ONR AT OPEN HOUSES

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — You know Ontario Northland is getting serious about the return of the Northlander train in “2026” when they start asking passengers what colour cars they want to ride in between Cochrane and Toronto.

At the second last open house in Gravenhurst — along the 16 train stops  — people were offered stickers to vote on either a solid blue train whizzing by or a mix of one bearing ONR’s blue and yellow corporate colours with chevrons.

The results were split — “very even throughout,” said ONR’s Kate Bondett.

The 160 people in South River, which had highest engagement, were “strongly opinionated” on the look they hope to see within two years. Voting from two virtual meetings will also factor in to final count.

Most just wanted the return of passenger rail service.

“It’s coming back. And there’s no doubt it will be a success,” said Bondett.

The Northlander discontinued service in 2012 due to costs rising from lack of riders said the Liberal government.

Bondett said people “wanted reassurance it’s coming back.”

And were “certainly” less sceptical after attending. They’re glad to be able to talk directly to us.”

She and three other staff heard northern residents wanted train service for health appointments, school, leisure, sports and shopping.

And to be able to travel within a single day — allowing a seven-hour stay in the city for returning at 6:30 p.m.

Those living in Gravenhurst will be home by 8:30 p.m., according to a proposed schedule on display.

A “flux” of people turned out early last Wednesday at one of the last open houses to talk about the return of the Northlander train in 2026. By 4 p.m. closing there were still a half dozen interested parties looking forward to its return and offering suggestions to make it successful this time.

“We were pleased to welcome nearly 200 community members to two Community Connection events in Washago and Gravenhurst November 7 and 8, said Bondett, communications and issues management specialist at ONR.

She called them “a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about our future passengers and answer some of the questions they’ve had.

Annual ridership is expected to reach 60,000 by 2041.

“We are in the design and planning phase of the project to restore the Northlander passenger rail service. They’ve have enabled us to demonstrate progress being on the reinstatement of service and the chance to incorporate community feedback in future decisions.”

Kate Bondett shows the corridor between Toronto and Timmins/Cochrane the Northlander will serve.

According to Bondett, in addition to “spit-balling ideas,” key themes included an expected launch date, information about stop locations and anticipated cost of the service.

“Although we are not able to provide exact ticket prices, we know affordability is of primary importance to passengers,” says Bondett. “We are focused on delivering a modern, future-ready transportation service that is affordable and meets the needs of passengers.”

Bondett added that both Washago and Gravenhurst will have glass shelters installed at stop locations, which will be heated during the winter months and equipped with security cameras and digital display screens.

Rebecca McGlynn shows the two engines on either side of the train set that will allow engineers to walk to the other end of the train for return travel. People at the open houses also got to vote on the two choices of colour schemes being considered for new passenger rail service between Toronto and Timmins/Cochrane.

Last December the province announced it was buying three train sets for the service. They’re being manufactured by Siemens in California, starting the spring of 2024, with anticipated delivery in 2026.

“When we receive the train sets we will be undertaking equipment testing along the corridor. When we are confident the equipment is safe to operate we will launch,” says Bondett.

So watch for whatever colour train they pick.

There was no shortage of comments on sticky notes left along the Muskoka to Toronto portion of the rail map where there are only two stops south of Washago heading to and from Toronto.

The information centres were open to all manner of train talk, from dietary concerns of the food carts to the cost of the train sets ($139 million) to timing (midnight departure in Timmins to 11 a.m. arrival in Toronto; and 6:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. return trip) and “affordability,” which Bondett said would be “comparable” to bus service.

(A one-way Gravenhurst to Toronto ticket on a Northland bus costs about $65 depending on when you travel, where to and how long before you order online.)

ONR’s public consultations have been underway since September and touting three bi-directional trains comprised of two passenger cars and an engine at each end for quick turn-arounds.

It will go from Toronto to ONR’s northern terminus in Timmins (where a new station will be built), with a connection to Cochrane on ONR’s Polar Bear Express train.

The trains will carry 169 passengers with business and economy class seating and some passenger freight storage space along with room for bicycles.

Wi-Fi service will be available throughout allowing business travellers to do work on the train.

At-seat food carts will also be available — an issue many left notes about calling for gluten-free and many other health options.

The interior of the inter-community travel train will be different than GO Train service in the GTA and will include business and economy seating with Wi-Fi.

“We’re embedding community feedback into every aspect of service,” said Bondett.

She said residents in the northern end of the corridor particularly wanted to arrive in the provincial capital during the day.

The total cost of the service to the province is still being finalized as things like the rising price of fuel are being considered.

“Affordability is a priority,” for ONR, the government and passengers, she said.

No doubt that will require taxpayer subsidization in the same way other community transits receive them.

With two years to go, Bondett said the plan is to do it “quickly and on budget.”

Any new input from riders at the information centres will be considered, including even new stops and scheduling if data and demand statistics prove need.

Bondett said as for the Northlander sharing the rail line with CN Rail, which owns most of the southern track, “negotiations have been very amicable.” As have talks with Metrolinx in loading and off-loading at Union Station in Toronto.

Ontario Northland and CP have a “great relationship,” already sharing freight lines on ONR tracks north of North Bay and those farther north to nearby Cochrane, Hearst and into Quebec.

Safety concerns are another vital concern everyone with faster and “quieter” trains running twice daily through cities, towns and villages.

The three trains — which will all be operational from day one — will see two in service and one available to rotate through as back-up and for maintenance to keep the service running year-round.

For more information see ONR’s website at https://onboard.ontarionorthland.ca/.

Proposed travel times up and down show an 11-hour trip, with times between destinations listed on the right.
Sorry no bar car, but food cart service delivery at your seat drew lots of comments from those in Gravenhurst who want healthier food choices.
How would you vote for the colour scheme of the Northlander? Two options were provided and many people who voiced a sticker opinion had their say almost evenly.

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