The Ontario provincial government announces the successful completion of the acquisition of 205 km of railway track between North Bay and Washago, marking another important milestone in the plan to reintroduce the Northlander passenger rail service in the province’s northeast.
This line represents over 25% of the entire rail corridor, strengthening public control over the infrastructure and enabling the operation of faster and more reliable services.
The acquisition was valued at 138 million Canadian dollars (100.5 million USD) and secures a dedicated rail corridor that will improve service punctuality and reliability, create well-paying jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the northern region.
Although passenger service will take priority on this line, the investment will also support the efficient operation of rail freight service, with revenue from this sector to be reinvested in the provincial public corporation Ontario Northland.
The acquisition is “a crucial step for the Northlander passenger rail service and for better connecting families and workers in northeastern Ontario to the opportunities and services they depend on. This investment will prioritize passenger service, supporting fast and reliable service along this line,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.
The acquisition of new sections of track along the Northlander corridor will ensure connectivity between communities from north to south and support the government’s efforts to build a more competitive and resilient province. The investment also allows for the maintenance of critical rail infrastructure, improving both passenger and freight services along the corridor.
Additionally, it will streamline freight operations in North Bay, where freight trains were previously broken up, transferred to Canadian CN’s infrastructure, and then reassembled before continuing their journey south.
Efforts to Reinstate the Northlander Passenger Rail Service
The Ontario provincial government has recently achieved several key milestones in support of the Northlander’s return, including the arrival of the first Northlander train, the completion of over USD 100 million (USD 73 million) in rail infrastructure upgrades, and the completion of the North Bay rail bypass.
Once completed, the Northlander service will cover a distance of 740 km between Timmins and Toronto, including a rail connection to Cochrane and a total of 16 stations.
The Ontario provincial government is taking concrete steps to relaunch the Northlander passenger rail service by acquiring 205 kilometers of the Newmarket Subdivision line between North Bay and Washago. This section represents over 25% of the entire rail corridor on which the train will operate, strengthening public control over the infrastructure and enabling faster and more reliable service. The transaction is valued at approximately 138 million USD (about USD 102 million).
The relaunch of the Northlander is part of a much broader program. Ontario is investing a total of 70 billion Canadian USD (USD 52 billion) in what officials describe as the largest public transit expansion in North America. These investments aim not only to improve mobility but also to stimulate economic development and increase regional resilience.
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