Ford announces $75M for Northlander train revival
Plans to return passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario now have a tentative price tag of $75 million, as announced by Premier Doug Ford in Timmins on Sunday.
Joined by transportation minister Caroline Mulroney, Ford said the plan is now to look into the feasibility of building 16 stops from Timmins to Toronto, including a newly-announced rail extension to Cochrane.
The Ontario government announced it is reinstating passenger rail service between Timmins and Toronto after it was cancelled in 2012. April 10/22 (Supplied)
"The previous government chose to cancel this rail service, cutting people and economies in northeastern Ontario off from the rest of the province," Ford said in a news release.
"At a time when our government is building up home-grown supply chains that connect resources, industries and workers in the north with the future of clean steel, electric vehicles and batteries, we’re restoring this vital transportation link. We’re getting it done and bringing passenger rail back to northeastern Ontario."
The announcement comes with the release of visuals outlining the tentative rail line, including 14 confirmed stations from Cochrane to Toronto, two "sensitivity stations" in Kirkland Lake and South River and an express bus route from Matheson to Cochrane.
A partnership between the province, its transportation company Ontario Northland and CN Rail, which owns the tracks between North Bay and Toronto, the project is expected to connect around 176,000 northerners to southern Ontario.
The project would also allow connection to the Polar Bear Express from Cochrane to Moosonee.
Timmins Mayor George Pirie said he was thrilled with the news.
"The return of passenger rail to Timmins is imperative to our region’s growth and prosperity. As a regional hub and with Porcupine as the future terminus location, we will most certainly see a positive impact on our tourism and industry sectors," said Pirie, who is also the city's Progressive Conservative candidate for the upcoming provincial election.
"This investment solidifies the government’s belief in our city. Residents will have another viable travel option to Toronto and points south. This is imperative for access to medical appointments and travel. It will improve our quality of life and the well-being of the community by strengthening access to and from Timmins and the north."
The province is projecting passenger rail service could be running in the northeast once again within the next three to six years, and possibly sooner, Dakota Brasier of the Ministry of Transportation told CTV News in an email.
On Friday, Ford was in Sault Ste. Marie to announce a new program called the Northern Energy Advantage which will help reduce electricity costs for the region's industrial sector. Read more about that here.
Ontario's next provincial election is less than two months away, on June 2, and the Progressive Conservatives will be trying to hold onto power.
Correction
Ontario Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Dakota Brasier clarified the restored passenger rail service could resume in the next three to six years or sooner, which is earlier than the five to eight years initally reported.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.