Fedeli says Northlander will not be an election issue

Associate Minister of Transportation Vijay Thanigasalam came to North Bay Friday to see the operations at Ontario Northland.

Vic Fedeli says the Northlander train project will not become an election issue and is on track for 2026. 

"We are absolutely on track," said Fedeli. 

Fedeli responded to the news that the new Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie gave her support for bringing the Northlander back. 

Fedeli finds that very ironic. 

"I find that a bit disingenuous and just political," Fedeli said bluntly. 

"The Liberals tore the tracks up, cancelled the Northlander, tried to cancel Ontario Northland, they wanted Ontario Northland gone. All the documents we presented showed that. Our party was the only one that supported them back then. The Liberals and NDP both voted against buying the rail cars."

Back in late November, Fedeli welcomed new associate transportation minister Vijay Thanigasalam to North Bay to see the operations at Ontario Northland. 

"Having the new associate minister here riding the train, getting an understanding what Ontario Northland is, I think was very important," noted Fedeli during a NOHFC funding announcement media conference in downtown North Bay on Friday.  

"We are fully committed to returning the Northlander here, the cars are on order. Now our attention is turning to getting the tracks upgraded and getting the stations upgraded as well." 

See related: Associate Minister of Transportation tours ONTC

See related: Northlander getting back on its rails

Once reinstated, northeastern passenger rail service will be offered from four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands says a news release.

Ontario Northland Transportation Commission’s Northlander passenger train discontinued service in 2012.

In April 2022 Ontario Northland Transportation Commission released the Updated Initial Business Case which included a preferred route from Toronto to Timmins with a rail connection to Cochrane.

By 2041, annual ridership is currently estimated to be between approximately 40,000 and 60,000.

Detailed design will focus on the route that includes 16 stops: Toronto (Union Station), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins and Cochrane.