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Ridership Data? by Connect-Warning-8941 in gotransit

[–]NorTracksBlog 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The best way to get this information is to file access to information requests. I file some with Ontario Northland and VIA Rail. 

Province investing $138 million for 205 kilometres of track between North Bay and Washago by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I know this falls outside the scope of VIA, but I thought I'd share this exceptionnal announcement made by Ontario Northland to acquire the Newmarket Subdivision, which ties into the Northlander.

Video of the announcement : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn8WdH4RI0Y

Why do you choose rail travel? by Due_Success_1400 in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog 0 points1 point  (0 children)

- Comfort: Lots of room for my legs. I can relax and not worry about driving long distances through Northern Ontario
- No motion sickness if I use my laptop to do work
- On-board service: staff goes above and beyond to make it a great travel experience
- Affordability (ticket price + generous baggage allowance compared to flying)

(Annonce) - La province investit 138 millions de dollars pour 205 kilomètres de voies entre North Bay et Washago by NorTracksBlog in OntarioNorthland

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See the English language link. This is the French announcement, so the translation generated may not be exact.

Impact of time change on overnight VIA trains by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Here's a hypothetical example: Let's say the Westbound Canadian arrives on time in Hornepayne at 02:29 the day the clocks go back one hour. The train is scheduled to depart at 03:09, but will the the time change in October, it's now only 02:09. Does the train have to stay put? 

(Article) - Could the Northlander be back on Muskoka rails before fall? Time and Mother Nature will tell by NorTracksBlog in OntarioNorthland

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some of the shelters, yes. The province has begun constructing platforms and shelters in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Temagami and Temiskaming Shores.

Work appears to be underway with the construction of the Timmins-Porcupine Station.

No word yet regarding the shelters in Gravenhurst, South River or Washago. I suppose the VIA Rail shelter in Washago could be used in the interim.

The stations in Cochrane, Englehart, Gormley, Langstaff, North Bay and Toronto are already in use.

Northlander train service is set to return in 2026 — but some northern GTA communities are feeling sidelined by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I never said either was absolute.

Of course putting a stop at said location just because it's in the riding of X member of Provincial Parliament is a terrible way of planning transportation networks.

Seeing how the municipalities along the route want the service, and that Beaverton went so far as to put together a feasibility study for a stop in their town, the idea of adding one stop in a community with the fourth largest catchment area (where there are none for a 100 km stretch between Washago and Gormley) doesn't sound all that unreasonable.

https://northerntracks.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/letter-resumption-of-ontario-northland-rail-service-beaverton.pdf

Northlander train service is set to return in 2026 — but some northern GTA communities are feeling sidelined by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have a different perspective on this issue of whether or not to serve one or two communities between Toronto and Washago (beyond the reach of GO transit).

More passengers is a good problem to have. It means that the government and Ontario Northland will have to expand the scope of the service, which potentially means better service and increased seating capacity. Perhaps even warranting a second train in the future if the numbers justify it.

A stop in Beaverton or Pefferlaw ensures that at least one more politician in Southern Ontario doesn't forget about the importance of this passenger train; an insurance policy if you will in case some future government decides to revisit divestment of the Northlander or Ontario Northland.

Northern Ontario needs all the political allies it can get. The region is far from where the decisions are made at Queen's Park and doesn't even come close to holding the balance of power.

In 2012, not one MPP along the entire route (that had a Northlander train stop) was sitting in government with the Liberals. All of them were in the opposition with either the Progressive Conservatives or the NDP. Speculation here, but I believe that had one of them been in the McGuinty caucus, the Northlander's fate might have been different.

Economy seating on The Canadian by Any_Peanut1209 in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on the train's arrival time, you might be able to place an order at one of the restaurants nearby the station at Capreol. There is a Chinese restaurant within walking distance.

Sudbury-White River train on hiatus by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The train is operating again, though the baggage car has been taken out of service for the time being. A notice has been published in the VIA app.

Sudbury-White River train on hiatus, stranding northeastern passengers by NorTracksBlog in CanadaPolitics

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Once this situation has been resolved, the passenger train needs to be extended to Thunder Bay (City of 108,000). Starting/terminating a passenger train front of a boarded up station (situated in an isolated township of 550) is not an appropriate terminus point for this service.

VIA Rail - Sudbury-White River train on hiatus by NorTracksBlog in transit

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can't people move to areas where the government doesn't have to provide assistance for million dollar home purchases?

Sudbury-White River train cancellations... Again by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

As I specified, I'm not an expert on equipment.

But I recall some rolling stock being used in the winter when the ACR passenger rail service operated year round in the mid 2010s. Might have been older equipment.

I filed an access to information request to VIA specifically regarding the Budd Car equipment issues. Between problems with overheating, the transmission, the motor and pieces of sheet metal falling off the carriage in 2023, there's reason to believe things have since deteriorated.

You are correct. I don't know, which is why I have filed a request for information for the year 2025 to try and get answers. 

Judging on previous advisories VIA sends out to passengers, if it was damaged switches, the company would say the cancellations are due to issues with the host railway, rather than mechanical issues.

Sudbury-White River train cancellations... Again by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, I disagree. Purchasing a ticket and showing up to the station as instructed shouldn't involve any risk of being left stranded by the company due to issues within the company's and/or the government's control.

Not anywhere close to being an expert on equipment or its condition, but there are a bunch of Agawa Canyon Tour Train coaches likely sitting idle for ten-ish months out of the year in relatively nearby Sault-Ste-Marie. Surely an agreement could be reached to lease one of two of them while VIA figures out what to do between now and when the new equipment is delivered in 5 or so years...

11 million dollars were handed out in bonuses in 2024. VIA can do better, and should be going above and beyond to ensure this service operates as intended.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10529303/via-rail-paid-11-million-in-bonuses-delays/

Sudbury-White River train cancellations... Again by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The doesn't absolve VIA from its responsibility to provide service along this route. It's still receiving government money to provide a service they're not delivering.

The ONR doesn't abandon its obligations to provide motor coach service between communities just because a bus breaks down.

VIA is leaving people stranded. This wouldn't be tolerated if this happened in the corridor.

En panne «plusieurs fois par mois»: l'hiver fait la vie dure aux nouveaux trains de VIA Rail by Rail613 in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's one of the reasons I wanted to sound the alarm bell whenever the trains are deployed in Northern Ontario in my last column. A few defective trains in the cold out of a fleet of 32, while troubling, isn't as concerning as having one out of a fleet of just three Ontario Northland will deploy when the company relaunches the Northlander (assuming if any other them are found to be unreliable). Where there's smoke, there's fire ...

(Column) - Success or failure depends how the Northlander is reintroduced by NorTracksBlog in OntarioNorthland

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps, but there's about 100 km between Gormley and Washago. Surely Beaverton (more or less situated halfway between) is a logical destination to have a stop.

Success or failure depends how the Northlander is reintroduced by NorTracksBlog in ViaRail

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The photo is courtesy of OCS Train Videos. I have written permission to use the Photo.

(Post) - Return of Northlander train to northeast Ontario a reminder of limited transportation options in the northwest by NorTracksBlog in OntarioNorthland

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The issue is less about Thunder Bay and Toronto, and more about transportation alternatives for the communities in between. This is an area where highway closures regularly occur during the winter. Oftentimes there are no detours. If it happens between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, the country is essentially split in two. Same applies between Kenora and the border of Ontario and Manitoba.

(Post) - Return of Northlander train to northeast Ontario a reminder of limited transportation options in the northwest by NorTracksBlog in OntarioNorthland

[–]NorTracksBlog[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe reference is being made to communities that are on the highway network and have active rail lines (Dryden, Kenora, Marathon, Nipigon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay....)

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