DISTRICT – Infrastructure work is set to wrap up this spring as part of the initiative to bring back passenger rail service to Northeastern Ontario.
Responding to a news release from the Ontario government heralding ongoing work on the $100 million project, Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof said he is as anxious as anyone to see the train service reinstated.
“I continue to look forward to the return of the Northlander,” the NDP MPP said in a text exchange with The Speaker.
“We have all fought long and hard to get the train back, none more so than the people who work at the ONR. It is a big investment and I am not surprised that the government is taking every opportunity to promote themselves and the service.
“(I’m) looking forward to taking it to Queen’s Park.”
As noted in the news release, the Northlander will span 740 kilometres between Toronto and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane, for a total of 16 stops.
“Our government is protecting Ontario by bringing back the Northlander and connecting thousands of people in northeastern Ontario to health care, education and economic opportunities,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.
“The rail work underway will help reduce travel times and deliver a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers.”
Additional work along the corridor, which includes adding warning systems, updating signage at rail crossings and adding gates to existing crossings, will continue to enhance safety across the network.
The Ontario government has also awarded a contract for renovations at North Bay Station, which will serve the Northlander, as well as Ontario Northland’s motor coach and Bus Parcel Express services. Construction is underway to modernize the station with new digital screens, seating and service counters, as well as washroom and lighting enhancements to improve accessibility and comfort.
Similar work is underway at the Cochrane and Englehart stations, with construction expected to be completed in the spring.
Englehart Mayor Doug Metson is one of many Northern leaders expressing anticipation for the return of the service, noting his community’s rail heritage.
“Englehart has been a proud railway town since 1906, when the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway made the town a key divisional point and sparked the growth of our community,” Metson said in the news release.
“The investment in rail infrastructure in support of the return of the Northlander continues that legacy- honouring our past while driving new opportunity and connection for years to come.”
The Northlander train service was axed as a cost-cutting measure by the then Liberal government in 2012. Both the ruling Conservative government of Doug Ford and Vanthof’s NDP party made the return of the Northlander a key campaign promise in subsequent elections.
By Joe O’Grady, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Feb 11, 2026 at 06:59
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