Ontario Northland Newmarket Subdivision purchase backs

Ontario Northland Newmarket Subdivision is moving under provincial control. According to the Ontario government, the province is buying 125 miles of Canadian National track for the Ontario Northland Railway. The move supports the return of Northlander passenger train service. It also ensures operational priority for the passenger service.

Why the Ontario Northland Newmarket Subdivision purchase matters?

On Thursday, March 13, the government said it would acquire the 205-kilometer section of CN’s Newmarket Subdivision between Washago and North Bay. The price is Ca$138 million. Previously, the route was part of CN’s transcontinental main line. Meanwhile, it was cut off from that main route in the 1990s. It was then left in two sections.

Don’t miss…East Coast Railway overbridge contract goes to A B Infrabuild

In 2009, Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency, bought the 60-mile (96-kilometer) segment between Barrie and Toronto. It bought it for GO Transit commuter trains. The line last saw passenger service when the original Northlander ended service on Sept. 28, 2012. In addition, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria spoke in a press release. He said the purchase will “prioritize passenger service by supporting fast, reliable service along the line,”

Passenger trains do not have the right of preference in Canada. At the same time, Vic Fedeli spoke at Thursday’s announcement. Fedeli is Ontario’s minister of economic development. He said the earlier Northlander service was often delayed by freight traffic.

Many of the stations previously used by the Northlander remain along the line. Also, the planned schedule for the new train includes stops at Washago, North Bay, and four intermediate stations.

Freight changes and infrastructure plans

The government also said the acquisition will streamline freight operations. It will do so by removing the need for an interchange between CN and ONR at North Bay. Canadian National currently operates trains 450 and 451 on the route. In addition, it runs local train 595 out of Huntsville, Ont. Going forward, Ontario Northland will take over those freight operations.

Separately, the purchase positions the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission to upgrade infrastructure on the line. The commission is ONR’s parent and a provincial Crown agency.

Northlander testing and trainset delivery

No launch date has yet been set for the Northlander. Still, My Parry Sound Now reported comments from Chad Evans, CEO of Ontario Northland. He said the first of the three Siemens Venture trainsets purchased for the service has begun dynamic testing in the Toronto area. It follows a series of static tests.

For example, he said that in the “coming weeks and months,” the first trainset will begin testing on the full Northlander route. Meanwhile, the other two trainsets will be delivered and begin similar testing, as previously covered by Railway Supply.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: