Bringing Back the Northern Passenger Rail
The Northern Passenger Rail Initial Business Case includes 13 stops from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane.
The PC government is delivering on its campaign promise to bring back the Northern passenger rail the previous Liberal government cancelled in 2012.
Dependable and efficient passenger rail has been long-awaited in the Northern Ontario.
That is why the PC government released it’s initial business case for a 13 stop route to provide service from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane. As part of the 2021 Ontario Budget, the government committed $5 million to support this planning and design work which was voted against by the NDP.
“We made a commitment to return passenger rail to the North and we are one step closer to fulfilling that commitment,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “The planning we’re doing today will help to determine the details, and we are confident that the proposed service route would provide the best value and options to support economic opportunities, the tourism industry and access to healthcare, education and other critical services.”
Service would be offered based on seasonal travel demands and would range from four to seven days a week. The service would allow passengers coming from the North to travel overnight to maximize their day in the Toronto area and reduce the need for overnight accommodations in Toronto, if preferred. The target completion date for the next stage of planning and design work is 2022 which could allow a potential in-service date in the mid 2020s.
“Improved passenger rail would provide people across Parry Sound-Muskoka with another way to travel both north and south to access services and it would give visitors to our local tourism operators a comfortable way to travel to the area,” said Norman Miller, MPP for Parry Sound – Muskoka. “I look forward to seeing this project progress and welcoming the many benefits improved rail service will bring to our region.”