LOCAL RAIL ROAD BUFF CAN’T WAIT FOR REBIRTH OF NORTHLANDER TRAIN AS IT SHOWS ITS TRUE NORTH COLOURS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Bruce Schulz can’t wait for the rebirth of the Northlander train when it makes its first stops in Muskoka next year.
His first train trip was a ride home from to Kilworthy from the hospital after his mother Morwin gave birth to the baby boom boy in March of 1947 at Orillia’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.
“The old Kilworthy station was a few hundred yards short of our family’s Kilworthy general store. And the conductor — who my mom knew — got the engineer to pull the train the short distance ahead to let us off at our house.”
Since then the soon to be 78-year-old has had a love affair with trains and even has a replica of the old Kilworthy Train Station sign hanging on the front of his garage along with other rail memorabilia.
He and his brother Fred, both rail buffs, can’t wait to ride the Northlander when it arrives sometime in 2026 as scheduled.
He won’t miss it as yesterday the Northlander unveiled its official exterior design and matching the north’s natural colours of lake blue and gold.
While the colours aren’t new, they say in a release:
“Ontario Northland is proud to present the exterior design of the future Northlander train. This design was shaped by feedback from community members who participated in the ‘Community Connection’ events that were held across 13 communities along the corridor in fall 2023.
“Feedback from the events highlighted that that the Northlander should be recognized as:
- Proudly rooted in our northern heritage
- Deeply connected to the people and communities it serves
- Welcoming to all
- Transformative for northeastern Ontario
- Safe, particularly during the winter months
- Reliable, ensuring passengers are well cared for from start to finish
- Accessible, both in terms of affordability and physical accessibility
- Comfortable, providing a stress-free and enjoyable ride
- Modern, with brand-new equipment
“The Northlander’s new exterior design brings a fresh look to this service. This design captures the essence of our brand – connecting people across Ontario in a way that’s safe, accessible and comfortable,” says Rebecca McGlynn, chief marketing and communications officer.
“We are excited for the new era of the Northlander to deliver a transportation option that enhances how people move to, from, and across the province.”
The new design prominently features the Ontario Northland logo, a familiar icon representing our longstanding service. It also introduces the newly created Northlander icon, which will be associated with this new train service like the popular goose icon for the Polar Bear Express.”
Shelter stop designs:
This follows shelter design and construction contracts already announced.
Ontario Northland awarded three contracts to design and manufacture nine new shelters, enhance rail safety and complete warning system upgrades along the Northlander route.
They will install new shelters equipped with seating, lighting and heating in Matheson, Kirkland Lake, Temiskaming Shores, Temagami, South River, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Washago.
“These shelters are to provide a consistent, modern passenger experience for travellers boarding and exiting the train along the route.”
Construction of station platforms, parking areas and pathways began last summer, in addition to crucial track improvements along the Ontario Northland rail network north of North Bay. The upgrades will enhance rail safety, mitigate risks and decrease train maintenance.
Once reinstated, the Northlander passenger rail service will operate four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands.
EMAIL: [email protected]
30 years of TRUSTED ‘Local Online Journalism’
SINCE MAY 20, 1994
Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1
SUBSCRIBE for $30 by e-transferring to [email protected]
Mail cheque to MuskokaTODAY.com Box 34 Gravenhurst, Ont. P1P 1T5
And include your email address to get stories sent to your inbox
