'It's happening. It's real': Northlander passenger train on track to return next year
Passenger train was scrapped in 2012 due to high costs. Total pricetag for its return not yet known
Some 14 years after it was scrapped by the previous Liberal government and eight years after the current Progressive Conservative promised to bring it back, the Northlander passenger train is set to return in 2026.
"Literally we are on track as we speak," said Al Spacek, chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission said.
"The equipment is being manufactured and we've seen some exciting developments. Our staff have been down to the manufacturing facility. So it's happening. It's real."
Spacek said the passenger service will be fully accessible, complete with Wi-Fi for guests. He also added that improvements are being made to the rail track.
"This government has already invested over $70 million on upgrading the track between North Bay and Timmins," he said.
"It will be a nice, smooth ride and this only represents 42 per cent of the work that's being planned on the track."
Spacek said it's not yet known exactly how much it will cost to bring the Northlander back, but said the provincial government has spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" so far.
"We've come a long way since the previous government said they're going to shut down this service," he said.
"I'm not sure there was a lack of demand or ridership... certainly that was a decision by the previous government to shut it down for whatever reasons."
Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne did indeed cite low ridership and high costs in 2012, when her government decided to scrap the Northlander passenger train and redirect that funding into Ontario Northland's passenger bus service.
In 2011, the Northlander had 39,000 riders, with an annual subsidy of $100 million keeping the train running.
By comparison, the 2022 business case for bringing back the train estimated annual operating costs at around $283 million, with as much as $93 million in revenues, if they hit a target of 58,000 riders by 2041.
"Ticket prices haven't been determined yet, but this is a public transportation service so the cost will be subsidized. Affordability is a priority," said Spacek.
"It's a right that people have access to public transportation. Passenger service doesn't make money. That's the fact of life."
