CANADA: Siemens Mobility has delivered the first of the locomotive-hauled trainsets ordered for the revival of Ontario Northland’s Northlander passenger service, which will run 740 km from Timmins-Porcupine station to Toronto Union.
In December 2022 the government of Ontario announced a C$139·5m order for three trainsets, each comprising one EPA Tier 4 emission standards-compliant diesel locomotive and three coaches. Each set will have with a total of 169 seats, including accessible places. Features include wide aisles, accessible toilets, charging ports, wi-fi and LED lighting.
The first trainset will undergo testing and commissioning in Toronto and then along the Northlander corridor. Passenger services are planned to start this year.
‘Today is a great day for the people of northern Ontario as we move another step closer to bringing the Northlander back into service, so families and workers can travel conveniently from Union station all the way to Timmins and Cochrane’, said the province’s Premier Doug Ford on January 8. ‘Our government will continue to invest in the largest public transit expansion in Canadian history as part of our plan to create jobs, tackle gridlock and protect workers and businesses.’
Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria said ‘the Northlander is a key part of our C$100bn plan to build transit and highways so we can protect Ontario and connect families to good jobs, housing and the services they rely on’.
The previous Northlander service was replaced by buses in September 2012.
George Pirie, Member of Provincial Parliament for Timmins, said ‘more than a train service, the return of the Northlander is an investment in the future of the north and a catalyst for long-term economic growth in northern Ontario. By reconnecting our region with safe, reliable rail service, we’re creating new opportunities for tourism, business investment and good-paying jobs.’
