Northlander train revival progressing on schedule, officials say
Provincial politicians said that work to bring northeastern Ontario’s long-missed Northlander passenger rail service is happening on schedule as they unveil signs highlighting the sites of its future train stations.
At an unveiling of the future Timmins-Porcupine station Monday morning, Ontario’s associate transportation minister, Stan Cho and Timmins MPP George Pirie said work is underway to prepare for the arrival of three train sets in the mid-2020s.
“The train purchases are on-schedule and the (engineering) work that has to go into having that train operational, shortly after the trains arrive, it’s already begun,” said Cho.
“We’ve got to look at the renderings for stations like (the) Porcupine train station and all the way up and down the line.”
Pirie told local stakeholders that the province wants to assure people in the communities that the revived service will transport between Toronto and Cochrane and that the Northlander will return.
Where the previous Liberal government decommissioned the train line, he said the Ford government intends to bring it back permanently.
“Over $100 million (in funding) to make this happen and the fact that it’s going to have a ridership of 60,000 people, will ensure that it will be here for a long time,” said Pirie.
Though he said it is difficult to comment on whether a future government would reverse course.
Meantime, Ontario Northland’s CEO, Chad Evans, said the goal is to design the train stations on a timeline that would have the Northlander operational soon after receiving the train sets from Siemens Mobility Limited.
“This year, we’re going to do the conceptual work and then we’ll get on with some drawings and we’ll move into procurement next year,” said Evans.
“We expect shovels in the ground by 2025.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.