Ontario Northland
![]() | |
Area Served | Northern Ontario |
Founded | 1902 |
Headquarters | 555 Oak Street East North Bay, Ontario P1B 8E3 |
Length | 1,086 km (675 mi) |
Website | ontarionorthland.ca |
USDOT# | MC/MX # | Full Legal Name |
---|---|---|
26390 | MC-129334 | Ontario Northland Transportation Commission |
Ontario Northland (often called ONR, however proper rail reporting marks are ONT) is a rail (passenger and freight) and coach service operator based in North Bay, Ontario. Its parent company, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission is a Crown agency responsible for providing transportation services for goods and passengers in Northern Ontario.
Ontario Northland provides service as far south as Toronto and as far north as Moosonee and services numerous communities in Northern Ontario such as Moosonee, Moose Factory, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane, Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Kirkland Lake, Engleheart, Armstrong, Temiskamming, Cobalt, Haileybury, Temagami, Sudbury, North Bay, Petawawa, Pembroke, Renfrew, Arnprior, Ottawa, Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Orillia, Barrie, and Toronto (Yorkdale and Toronto Union terminal).
Recent history
In March 2012 the Ontario government announced the winding down of Ontario Northland in an effort to balance its budget. The government claimed the agency was no longer viable with low passenger numbers and high subsidies.[1] Assets such as Ontera telecommunications and freight operations would be sold off. The first major stage of the shut-down was the discontinuation of The Northlander train, which was replaced with bus service. The last run occurred on September 28, 2012.[2] The government stated it was committed to the continuation of the Polar Bear Express, but intended to tender operations of the bus routes to private companies.[3]
There was much opposition to the plans from both politicians and Northern Ontario residents. A plan to restructure Ontario Northland was eventually negotiated by February 2014. The government announced in April 2014 that the company would remain a crown agency and Ontera telecommunications would be sold to Bell Aliant. They also announced that they would be renewing the rolling stock for the Polar Bear Express.[4] A total of 16 ex-GO Transit Hawker Siddeley Canada single-level cars are being refurbished. The first car to be completed was unveiled in August 2016.
Beginning in September 2015, Greyhound Canada reduced service emanating from Sudbury, which included the Trans Canada, Ottawa, and Toronto services. Ontario Northland introduced service between Sudbury and Ottawa at the start of 2016 to fill the void.[5]
Further expansion occurred in January 2018, with new service to communities west of Sudbury that include Espanola, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, and White River. There is an emphasis on transporting people to medical appointments in the larger urban centres.[6] On April 9, 2018, Ontario Northland began serving Manitoulin Island. The service connect 15 communities as well as Sudbury five days per week. Again emphasis was on connecting people with medical facilities.[7]
On February 12, 2020, the Province announced that Ontario Northland would be extending its bus service to Thunder Bay, beginning April 2020. The new route includes stops in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and North Bay with connections to Toronto and Ottawa.[8] However, as the COVID-19 Pandemic began to unfold, Ontario Northland started to scale back service and delayed expansion to Thunder Bay.[9] Service between Thunder Bay and White River eventually began on May 17. The following day, service was expanded from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg, with stops in Dryden, Kenora, the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and the University of Winnipeg. Kasper Transportation had been offering service from White River to Thunder Bay, and on to Winnipeg via Sioux Lookout until May 2. This service was halted due to a decrease in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.[10]
Bringing back the Northlander became a promise by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and Ontario New Democratic Party during the 2018 election. Under the Progressive Conservatives, the Northeastern Passenger Rail Service Initial Business Case was released in May 2021. Ontario Northland and Metrolinx had plans for a 13-stop route between Toronto and Timmins or Cochrane. The next stage of planning and design work was planned to be completed in 2022 which could allow a potential in-service date in the mid 2020s. On November 22, 2021, a test train of two locomotives, three Hawker Siddeley coaches, and an Auxiliary Power Control Unit made a journey from North Bay to Toronto and back.
On December 15, 2022, the Government of Ontario announced that they will purchase three new Siemens Venture trainsets as part of its plan to bring back northeastern passenger rail service. Much like VIA Rail Canada's Venture trainsets, they will be fully accessible with built-in wheelchair lifts, have mobility aid storage spaces, have galley-style food services, and have fully accessible washrooms.[11] The new trainsets are to be built for 2026.[12]
The government plans to run the new Northlander rail service four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands, starting in the mid-2020s. The route being examined would have 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. Cochrane will provide a connection to Polar Bear Express service to Moosonee.[11]
Routes
Rail
Present
- The Polar Bear Express - Operated between Cochrane, Ontario and Moosonee/Moose Factory, Ontario
Former
- The Northlander - Operated between Toronto's Union train station and Cochrane, Ontario.
- The Little Bear - Operated between Cochrane, Ontario and Moosonee, Ontario.
- The Dream Catcher Express - Operated between North Bay, Ontario and Temagami, Ontario. The Dream Catcher Express used to operate only six days per year and is operated to give riders a picturesque view of the natural beauty Ontario's Northern community of Temagami has to offer.
Motor Coach
Ontario Northland operates motor coach services from Hearst to Toronto, and Ottawa to Winnipeg, which services the various northern communities along the way. In May 2020, service was added to Winnipeg, MB.
- 101/102 : Toronto — Barrie — North Bay
- 201/202 : Toronto — Parry Sound — Sudbury
- 301/302 : North Bay — Timmins — Cochrane
- 401/402 : Sudbury — Timmins — Hearst
- 501/502 : Ottawa — North Bay — Sudbury
- 503/504 : Sudbury — Sault Ste. Marie
- 601/602 : Thunder Bay — Sault Ste. Marie
- 603/604 : Thunder Bay – Winnipeg, MB
Bus roster
Active
Retired
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
70-72 | 1946 | CC&F | IC-41 | |||||
100 (1) | 1953 | CC&F | CD-36A | |||||
100 (2) | Renumbered 817 | |||||||
101 | 1950 | CC&F | C-36A |
| ||||
110-114 | 1975 | MCI | MC-5B |
| ||||
120 | MCI | MC-5A | ||||||
122 | 5/1965 | MCI | MCC-5A | |||||
123 | 4/1966 | MCI | MC-5A | |||||
124 | 1967 | Prevost | ||||||
125 | 1967 | MCI | MC-5A | |||||
126-127 | 5/1967 | MCI | MC-5A | |||||
130 | 1968 | MCI | MC-5A | |||||
132-133 | 1971 | MCI | MC-7 | |||||
134-135 | 1972 | MCI | MC-7 | |||||
136 | 1973 | MCI | MC-7 | |||||
137 | 1976 | MCI | MC-8 | |||||
200-201 | 1972 | MCI | MC-7 |
| ||||
202-203 | 1/1973 | MCI | MC-8 | |||||
204-205 | 10/1974 | MCI | MC-8 |
| ||||
208-210 | 3/1978 | MCI | MC-8 |
| ||||
211-216 | Renumbered 811-816 | |||||||
217-219 | Renumbered 821-823 | |||||||
300-303 | 1973 | UTDC/Rek-Vee | Club Car | Ex-GO Transit 1206, 1211, 1210, 1202; purchased in 1976. | ||||
501-503 | Renumbered 5991-5993 | |||||||
504 | Renumbered 5001 | |||||||
505-506 | Renumbered 5011-5012 | |||||||
507 | Renumbered 5021 | |||||||
508-510 | Renumbered 5031-5033 | |||||||
511-512 | Renumbered 5041-5042 | |||||||
741 | 1974 | MCI | MC-8 |
| ||||
751-754 | 1975 | MCI | MC-5B |
| ||||
761-762 | 1/1976 | MCI | MC-8 |
| ||||
781-782 | 3/1978 | MCI | MC-8 |
| ||||
811-816 | 1981 | MCI | MC-9 |
| ||||
817 | 1981 | Dodge | B-322 |
| ||||
821-823 | 6/1982 | MCI | MC-9 | Detroit Diesel 8V71N |
| |||
824-828 | 4/1982 | MCI | MC-9 | Detroit Diesel 8V71N |
| |||
831-835 | 4/1983 | MCI | MC-9 | Detroit Diesel 8V71N |
| |||
841 | 1984 | MCI | MC-9 | |||||
843-845 | 1984 | MCI | MC-9 | Detroit Diesel 8V71N |
| |||
851-857 | ![]() |
1985 | MCI | 102-A3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA |
| ||
861-862 | 1986 | MCI | 102-A3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA |
| |||
871-877 | 1987 | MCI | 102-A3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA |
| |||
881-882 | ![]() |
1988 | MCI | 102-A3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | |||
891-892 | ![]() |
1989 | MCI | 102-A3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | |||
901-903 | 1990 | MCI | 102-A3 | |||||
931-932 | ![]() |
1992 | MCI | 102-C3 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA |
| ||
951-955 |
![]() |
1995 | MCI | 102-D3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | |||
961-962 | 1996 | MCI | 102-D3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| |||
981 | 1997 | MCI | 102-D3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| |||
1022 |
1989 | MCI | 102-AW3 | Detroit Diesel 8V92TA | ||||
1308 | 2019 | TEMSA | TS 45 | Cummins ISX12 | Allison B500R |
| ||
L1907-L1909 | 2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R |
| ||
L1912-L1914 | ![]() |
2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R |
| |
1915 | ![]() |
2019 | TEMSA | TS 45 | Cummins ISX12 | Allison B500R |
| |
2001, 2003 | ![]() |
2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E |
| |||
2340, 2344 | 1981 | MCI | MC-9 |
| ||||
5001 | ![]() |
1999 | MCI | 102-DL3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| ||
5002 | 2000 | MCI | 102-DL3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| |||
5011-5012 | ![]() |
2000 | MCI | 102-DL3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| ||
5013-5017 | ![]() |
2001 | MCI | D4500 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500R |
| |
5021-5022 | ![]() |
2002 | Prevost | LeMirage XL II | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500 |
| |
5031-5033 | ![]() |
2003 | MCI | J4500 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | ZF AS Tronic |
| |
5041-5042 | ![]() |
2004 | MCI | J4500 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | ZF AS Tronic |
| |
5051-5053 | ![]() |
2005 | MCI | D4500 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | ZF AS Tronic | ||
5071-5073 | 2007 | MCI | D4505 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | ||||
5091-5092 | ![]() |
2009 | MCI | D4505 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500R |
| |
5211-5215 | ![]() |
2011 | Prevost | X3-45 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500 | ||
5216-5218 | ![]() |
2011 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 |
| |
5331-5333 | ![]() |
2013 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 |
| |
5334-5336 | ![]() |
2007 | Prevost | X3-45 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500 |
| |
5401-5402 | ![]() |
2014 | MCI | D4505 | Cummins ISX12 |
| ||
L5704-L5709 | 2010 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 |
| |||
5800 | 2013 | TEMSA | TS 35 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R |
| ||
5991-5993 | ![]() |
1998 | MCI | 102-DL3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
| ||
CLASSIC, LEGEND |
2016 | Prevost | H3-45 | Volvo D13 |
|
Demonstrators
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13895 | 2016 | MCI | D4500CT | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B500R |
| |
N/A | TBD | TEMSA | TS 45E | TM4 traction motor | N/A |
|
Rail roster
Locomotives
Active
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Class | Engine horsepower |
Gearing top speed |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
202-205 | ![]() |
EMD | EGU | None | None |
| ||
220-221 | ![]() |
1979-85 | EMD | F40PH | None | None | ||
1600-1605 | ![]() |
1956-57 | GMDD | GP9 | 16V567C 1750hp |
62:15 65mph |
| |
1730-1737 | ![]() |
1973-74 | GMDD | SD40-2 | 16V645E3C 3000hp |
62:15 65mph |
| |
1740 | EMD | SD40-2 | ||||||
1741 | ![]() |
EMD | SD40-2 |
| ||||
1800-1803 | ![]() |
1974 | GMDD | GP38-2 | 16V645E3 2000hp |
62:15 65mph |
| |
1804-1807 | ![]() |
1982 | GMDD | GP38-2 | 16V645E3 2000hp |
62:15 65mph |
| |
1808-1809 | ![]() |
1984 | GMDD | GP38-2 | 16V645E3 2000hp |
62:15 65mph |
||
1810 | EMD | GP38-3 |
| |||||
2100-2105 | 1999 | GMDD | SD75I | 16V710G3C 4300hp |
83:18 70mph |
| ||
2200-2202 | 1977 | EMD | GP40-2 | 16V645E3 3000hp |
62:15 65mph |
|
On Order
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Class | Engine horsepower |
Gearing top speed |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2300-2305 | EMD | SD70MAC |
Retired
This section is incomplete.
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Class | Engine horsepower |
Gearing top speed |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
200 | 1964 | NSC | None | None |
| |||
201 | 1947 | None | None |
| ||||
206 | 1960 | NSC | EGU | None | None | |||
210 | NSC | None | None |
| ||||
1200-1202 | 1946 | Alco | S-2 | 1000 hp |
| |||
1203 | 1950 | MLW | S-4 | 1500 hp |
| |||
1300-1301 | 1949 | Alco | RS-2 | 1500 hp |
| |||
1302-1303 | 1950 | MLW | RS-2 | 1500 hp |
| |||
1304-1311 | 1951 | Alco | RS-3 | 1600 hp |
| |||
1400-1401 | 1955 | MLW | RS-10 | 1600 hp |
| |||
1402-1403 | 1957 | MLW | RS-10 | 1600 hp | ||||
1500-1521 | ![]() |
1951-1953 | GMDD | FP7 | 1500 hp |
| ||
1980-1983 | 1957 | Werkspoor | TEE |
| ||||
1984-1987 | 1951-1953 | GMDD | FP7 | 1500 hp |
| |||
2000-2002 | ![]() |
Built 1954-1956 Rebuilt 1997 |
GMDD | FP7Cat | Cat 16V3516 2075hp |
|
Passenger cars
Active
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Type | Seating capacity |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
416-417 | 1974 | HSC | RTC-85 | n/a |
| |
650-654, 660-661 | 1967 | HSC | RTC-85 | 48 |
| |
750 | 1967 | HSC | RTC-85 |
|
Retired
This section is incomplete.
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Type | Seating capacity |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
301-302 | 1917 | Pullman | Baggage | n/a | ||
400 | 1927 | Pullman | Business |
| ||
401 | 1926 | NSC | Baggage | n/a | ||
410-412 | 1953 | NSC | Baggage | n/a | ||
413-414 | 1954 | NSC | Lightweight baggage | n/a | ||
600-615 | ![]() |
1967 | HSC | RTC-85 | 54 | |
700-703 | ![]() |
1967 | HSC | RTC-85 RTC-85SPD |
| |
801-806 | 1936 | NSC | Coach |
| ||
811-812 | 1949 | Pullman-Standard | Coach |
| ||
830-836 | 1941 | Pullman-Standard | Coach | 56 |
| |
840-842 | 1949 | Pullman-Standard | Coach | 56 |
| |
850-855 | 1956 | CC&F | Coach | 52 | ||
856-857 | 1950 | CC&F | Coach | 52 | ||
900 | 1952 | Pullman-Standard | Super Dome | |||
1404 | 1944 | ACF | Lunch Car |
| ||
1405-1406 | 1949 | CC&F | Coach/Lounge |
| ||
1407 | 1954 | Pullman-Standard | Diner | |||
1408 | 1955 | CC&F | Café-bar-lounge | |||
1409 | 1954 | Pullman-Standard | Diner | |||
1410 | 1954 | CC&F | Entertainment car | |||
1980-1983 | Renumbered to 1984-1987. | |||||
1984-1987 | 1957 | SIG | TEE |
|
References
- ↑ Province winds down Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
- ↑ Ferguson, Rob (16 August 2012). Ontario Northlander train to make its last run Sept. 28. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
- ↑ Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (Press release). Government of Ontario. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
- ↑ Transformation Update. Retrieved on 2014-12-26.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ "Ontario Northland Extends Bus Service Northwest to Thunder Bay". Press release. Ontario Northland. 12 February 2020.
- ↑ "Ontario Northland suspends launch of Thunder Bay bus route." 17 April 2020. North Bay Nugget.
- ↑ "Ontario Northland launches scheduled bus service between Thunder Bay, White River, Winnipeg." 14 May 2020. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ontario Taking Next Steps to Bring Back Northeastern Passenger Rail."] Press release. Government of Ontario. 15 December 2022.
- ↑ "Northlander Passenger Rail Updates." Ontario Northland. 15 December 2022.
- ↑ Witnesses recall March ’73 bus crash near Barrie that left 12 dead, www.thebarrieexaminer.com, retrieved on 2013-05-18.
- ↑ TEMSA TS45e in Ontario Northland’s Pilot Program. Damera Corporation. 25 September 2024.
- Transit Canada
- Personal notes and sightings