The Ontario Northlander is going to be put back into service.
The Northlander, which ran from Toronto to Timmins and Cochrane up until 10 years ago, is being put back into service with new state of the art equipment. Here are the details:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/12/15/train-purchase-means-the-ontario-northlander-may-finally-be-back-on-track.html?utm_source=share-bar&utm_medium=user&utm_campaign=user-share
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
That's cool Dave. No reason for that beautiful equipment to be sitting idle.
I liked how the article calls the new equipment Trainsets
TF
That looks really good, Dave. Bringing back things that should not have gone in the first place.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Track fiddlerI liked how the article calls the new equipment Trainsets
That's what Siemens calls them.
So $140 million on equipment, plus $75 million for infrastructure work, plus operational expenses for what MIGHT be an average of 164 people per day 19 years from now?
Oh, and the train might never get to Cochrane. The current planned terminus is Timmins, which lost passenger service prior to 2012.
AEP528So $140 million on equipment, plus $75 million for infrastructure work, plus operational expenses for what MIGHT be an average of 164 people per day 19 years from now?
Hi AEP528,
Your math is correct. It is highly unlikely that the service will ever make a profit. That's the problem with trying to support isolated communities. Bus service to several northern locations across Canada was recently terminated by the private sector because they were losing money. That made it very difficult for a lot of people to get to larger urban centers. The government has to step in or the northern communities will die.
hon30critterYour math is correct. It is highly unlikely that the service will ever make a profit.
Pretty much no passenger service in history has actually made a profit.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
dehusman hon30critter Your math is correct. It is highly unlikely that the service will ever make a profit. Pretty much no passenger service in history has actually made a profit.
hon30critter Your math is correct. It is highly unlikely that the service will ever make a profit.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain dehusman Pretty much no passenger service in history has actually made a profit. I never knew that. Not even runs like the Santa Fe Super Chief from LA to Chicago back in the day? Rich
dehusman
I never knew that. Not even runs like the Santa Fe Super Chief from LA to Chicago back in the day?
Passenger service is basically public transportation. A full cost-benefit analysis, that considers indirect economic and environmental benefits would be needed to assess whether it makes sense or not.
As a model railroader, I'm definitely pleased about it!
Simon
Because that's what they are.
Matched sets of engine + 2 regular coaches + cab coach.
aka "Train set"
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
wjstixOne of the issues Canada faces is there are isolated towns where the only way to reach them is by rail - or perhaps small airplanes. They aren't connected to the rest of the country by any type of roads.
Although that's not actually the case in this particular situation with this train.
cv_acrAlthough that's not actually the case in this particular situation with this train.
Hi cv_acr,
You are absolutely correct. However, having driven to Timmins and Cochrane, the trip would have been much more relaxing if I didn't have to do all the driving. IIRC, the trip from Bradford, which is 40 kms north of Toronto, took the better part of 10 hours, and that was in good weather. I can't imagine having to do that in a winter snow storm.
By the way, if you ever find yourself in Cochrane, the restaurant in the train station is absolutely excellent, and there is a polar bear sanctuary where you can see the amazing beasts right up close and personal! We considered the polar bear exhibit to be one of our experiences of our lifetimes. Well worth the trip for that alone.
cv_acr wjstix One of the issues Canada faces is there are isolated towns where the only way to reach them is by rail - or perhaps small airplanes. They aren't connected to the rest of the country by any type of roads. Although that's not actually the case in this particular situation with this train.
wjstix One of the issues Canada faces is there are isolated towns where the only way to reach them is by rail - or perhaps small airplanes. They aren't connected to the rest of the country by any type of roads.
I'm not aware of any small town accessible by rail only in Canada. In the Northern territories, small hamlets and towns have a small airport, or are accessible via a dirt road or by boat. In the provinces, practically all towns are accessible via a road (sometimes dirt). Some by plane or boat only.
snjroyI'm not aware of any small town accessible by rail only in Canada.
Keewatin Railway serves communities in Northern Manitoba that have no road access to the outside.
Ontario Northland's north end terminal of Moosonee has rail, and airport, but no year-round road connection. South of Cochrane it's pretty paralleled by roads.
Quebec, North Shore & Labrador Railway, Quebec Cartier, Tshiueten Transportation, etc. serve areas of Northern Quebec not accessed by any other form of transportation.
There are plenty of isolated stops and small communities along rail lines in northern ontario that have difficult if any road access. And some of the more remote road access you wouldn't want to attempt driving with anything but an all wheel drive truck or SUV with a high suspension. Forget passenger sedans. VIA Rail's Sudbury-White River RDC on CP's northern Ontario line is considered "essential service" as many of its stops have no other alternative. Even the flagship "Canadian" provides service along the CN line in northern Ontario to isolated stops.
I know someone who lives in Labrador. He travels by car to Ontario using all sorts of roads that don't appear on maps.
Thank you for providing all of those examples of railroads serving isolated communites.
Good morning
Bummer!
Didn't make the grade on the Ontario Northlander cars
Track fiddler Bummer! Didn't make the grade on the Ontario Northlander cars
Eh?
cv_acr Track fiddler Bummer! Didn't make the grade on the Ontario Northlander cars Eh?
Someone had the Ontario Northland MTL double boxcar set in auction at e-Bay. It had zero bids as perhaps over priced. Sent three offers but none were accepted.
David Bowie, Space Oddity was playing on the radio and apparently influenced my wording
"This is Ground Control to Major Tom, You've really made the grade, And the papers want to know who's shirts you wear"