Ontario Northland

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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. They provide service as far south as Toronto and as far north as Moosonee. Ontario Northland services the communities of 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]

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, Ontario to Toronto, Ontario which services the various northern communities along the way.

  • 100/200 : Toronto—Barrie—Bracebridge—Huntsville—North Bay
  • 300/400 : Toronto—Parry Sound—Sudbury
  • 500/600 : Sudbury—Timmins—Cochrane—Hearst
  • 650/660 : Sudbury—North Bay—Petawawa—Ottawa
  • 670/680 : Hearst – Sault Ste. Marie – Sudbury – North Bay – Ottawa
  • 695/697 : Sudbury – Manitoulin Island – Sudbury – North Bay
  • 700/800 : North Bay—Matheson—Timmins—Cochrane—Hearst
  • Shuttle : Cochrane—Timmins

[4]

Bus roster

Active

Fleet
number(s)
Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
1901-1906 2018 MCI D4505 Cummins ISX12
  • 2019 models.
L1907-L1909 2019 TEMSA TS 35E Cummins L9 Allison B500R
L1910-L1914 2019 TEMSA TS 35E
  • Replaced previously leased TEMSA units 5800 and 1907-1909
2001-2003 Ontario Northland 2003-a.jpeg 2019 TEMSA TS 35E
  • Purchased primarily for Thunder Bay-Winnipeg route
5211-5215 Ontario Northland 5213-a.jpg 2011 Prevost X3-45 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500 5214-5215 are retired.
5216-5218 Ontario Northland 5218-a.jpg 2011 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13 Allison B500
  • 2012 models.
  • 5216 is retired.
5331-5333 Ontario Northland 5333-a.jpg 2013 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13 Allison B500
  • 2014 models.
5401-5402 Ontario Northland 5401-a.jpg 2014 MCI D4505 Cummins ISX12
  • Retrofitted with LED headlights.
5403-5405 2014 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13 Allison B500
5501-5503 Ontario Northland 5503-a.jpg 2015 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13 Allison B500
  • 2016 models.
5601-5603 2016 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13
B5604-B5609 Ontario Northland B5609-a.jpg MCI D4505 Cummins ISX12

On order

Fleet
number(s)
Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
(4 units) 2019 MCI J3500

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
  • Ex-Demo; purchased in 1956.
110-114 1975 MCI MC-5B
  • 111-114 renumbered to 751-754.
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
  • 200 was involved in a major accident on March 18, 1973.[11]
202-203 1/1973 MCI MC-8
204-205 10/1974 MCI MC-8
  • 205 renumbered to 741.
208-210 3/1978 MCI MC-8
  • 209-210 renumbered to 781-782.
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
  • Formerly numbered 111-114.
761-762 1/1976 MCI MC-8
  • Formerly numbered 206-207.
781-782 3/1978 MCI MC-8
  • Formerly numbered 209-210.
811-816 1981 MCI MC-9
  • Formerly numbered 211-216.
817 1981 Dodge B-322
  • Formerly numbered 100 (2).
821-823 6/1982 MCI MC-9 Detroit Diesel 8V71N
  • Formerly numbered 217-219.
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 Ontario Northland 854-a.jpg 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 Ontario Northland 881-a.jpg 1988 MCI 102-A3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
891-892 Ontario Northland 892-a.jpg 1989 MCI 102-A3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
901-903 1990 MCI 102-A3
931-932 Ontario Northland 931-a.jpg 1992 MCI 102-C3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
  • 1993 models
951-955 Wc15.JPG Ontario Northland 955-a.jpg 1995 MCI 102-D3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
961-962 1996 MCI 102-D3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • 1997 models.
981 1997 MCI 102-D3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • 1998 model.
1022 Wc15.JPG 1989 MCI 102-AW3 Detroit Diesel 8V92TA
2340, 2344 1981 MCI MC-9
5001 Ontario Northland 5001-a.jpg 1999 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • 2000 model.
  • Formerly numbered 504.
5002 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • Purchased used.
5011-5012 Ontario Northland 5012-a.jpg 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • 2001 models.
  • Formerly numbered 505-506.
5013-5017 Ontario Northland 5015-a.jpg 2001 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500R
5021-5022 Ontario Northland 5021-a.jpg 2002 Prevost LeMirage XL II Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500
  • Purchased second hand from Prevost in 2011.
5031-5033 Ontario Northland 5033-a.jpg 2003 MCI J4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic
  • Formerly numbered 508-510.
5041-5042 Ontario Northland 5041-b.jpg 2004 MCI J4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic
  • Formerly numbered 511-512.
5051-5053 Ontario Northland 5052-a.jpg 2005 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic
5071-5073 2007 MCI D4505 Detroit Diesel Series 60
5091-5092 Ontario Northland 5091-a.jpg 2009 MCI D4505 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500R
  • 2010 models.
5334-5336 Ontario Northland 5336-a.jpg 2007 Prevost X3-45 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500
L5704-L5709 2010 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13
5800 2013 TEMSA TS 35 Cummins ISL9 Allison B500R
  • 2014 model.
  • Leased in April 2018 to initiate Manitoulin Island service.
  • Sold to Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours in 2019.
5991-5993 Ontario Northland 5991-a.jpg 1998 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
  • 1999 models.
  • Formerly numbered 501-503.
  • 5993 retired sometime before April 27, 2013.

Demonstrators

Fleet
number(s)
Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
13895 2016 MCI D4500CT Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B500R
  • CNG demonstrator; leased from July-Fall 2017.

Rail roster

Active locomotives

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Class Engine
horsepower
Gearing
top speed
Notes
202-205 Ontario Northland 203-a.jpg Acquired 1985,1996 EMD EGU None None
  • Rebuilt by ONR shops in North Bay.
  • 202-204 are ex-MILW F7B's and F9B's converted to EGU's in 1989-1991 to provide HEP to passenger trains.
  • 205 is ex-GO Transit 801.
206 Acquired 2004 NSC EGU None None
  • Built as CN 15483, transferred to VIA in 1978.
  • Sold to BCR in 1997, converted to EGU there.
  • Sold to ONR as part of Starlight Dinner trainset purchased from BCR.
220-221 Acquired 2019 EMD F40PH 16V-645E3
3200 hp
  • Ex Amtrak
  • Painted into new passenger livery
1600-1605 Ontario Northland 1603-a.jpg 1956-57 GMDD GP9 16V567C
1750hp
62:15
65mph
  • 1602 sold to NRE in 2006.
  • 1603 equipped with a 2000hp 16V645E engine in 2001.
1730-1737 Ontario Northland 1731-a.jpg 1973-74 GMDD SD40-2 16V645E3C
3000hp
62:15
65mph
  • 1732 wrecked July 1996, retired in 2001.
  • 1731 and 1736 retired and sold to Progress Rail in 2005.
1800-1803 Ontario Northland 1800-a.jpg 1974 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp
62:15
65mph
  • 1803 wrecked and retired.
1804-1807 Ontario Northland 1805-a.jpg 1982 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp
62:15
65mph
  • 1807 wrecked July 1996, retired in 2001.
1808-1809 Ontario Northland 1808-a.jpg 1984 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp
62:15
65mph
2100-2105 1999 GMDD SD75I 16V710G3C
4300hp
83:18
70mph
  • Units built as options on CN GF-643c order for use on projected garbage trains from Toronto to Adams Mine near Kirkland Lake.
2200-2202 Acquired 2005 EMD GP40-2 16V645E3
3000hp
62:15
65mph
  • Units built for B&M in 1977, purchased from Helm Leasing to replace the 3 FP7Cat's.

Historical locomotives

Fleet
number(s)
Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Class Engine
horsepower
Gearing
top speed
Notes
1500-1521 Ontario Northland 1502-a.jpg 1951-1953 GMDD FP7 1500 hp
  • 1503, 1505, 1507, 1512-1513 to GO Transit in 1973.
  • 1500, 1504, 1511 & 1514 to GO Transit in 1976.
  • 1505, 1516-1517 wrecked and retired.
  • 1501, 1510, 1518-1519 renumbered to work with TEE sets.
  • 1502, 1509 & 1521 rebuilt to FP7Cat 2000-2002.
  • 1506, 1508, 1515-1517 & 1520 retired.
2000-2002 Ontario Northland 2002-a.jpg Built 1954-1956
Rebuilt 1997
GMDD FP7Cat Cat 16V3516
2075hp
  • Rebuilt in 1997 for passenger service with Caterpillar 3615 prime movers and desktop operating controls.
  • Units retired in 2005.

Active railcars

Fleet
number(s)
Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Type Seats Notes
411-413 1953-54 NSC Lightweight baggage
  • 411 and 412 purchased by ONR.
  • 413 is ex-VIA 9604
  • Nee-CN 9232.
  • 411 retired.
600-615 Ontario Northland 601-a.jpg Acquired 1985, 1994 HSC RTC-85 54
  • Ex-GO Transit single-level cars in the 1000-series.
  • Rebuilt by ONR shops in North Bay.
  • Cars rebuilt for long-distance service.
  • 611 damaged and retired in 1996.
  • 608 damaged and retired in 2001.
  • 605, 607 and 610 have never operated in service.
700-703 Ontario Northland 700-a.jpg Acquired 1985 HSC RTC-85
RTC-85SPD
  • Ex-GO Transit single-level cars in the 1000-series, and the two dual-cab self-propelled cars.
  • Rebuilt by ONR shops in North Bay.
  • Cars rebuilt for lunch-counter service.
830-842 Acquired 1971 Pullman-Standard 85 foot coach 56 seats
  • Nee-N&W coaches in the 1700-series and 500-series, built in 1949.
  • Only 841 and 842 remain in service.
850-857 Acquired 1990-1993 CC&F "Dayniter" 52 seats
  • Ex-VIA "Dayniter" coaches in the 5700-series
  • Exx-VIA EM-85 82-seat lightweight coaches and I-series 22 roomette sleepers
  • Nee-CN EM-85 82-seat lightweight coaches (1954-1956) and I-series 22 roomette sleepers (1950).
1408 Acquired 1990 CC&F Café-bar-lounge
  • Ex-VIA 2514
  • Exx-CN 2514
  • Exx-CN café-coach 3028
  • Nee-CN EM-85 82-seat lightweight coach 5613 built 1955.
1409 Acquired 1992 Pullman-Standard Diner
  • Ex-VIA 1358
  • Exx-CN 1358
  • Nee-CN buffet-sleeper 1012 built 1954.
1410 Acquired 1992 CC&F Entertainment car
  • Ex-VIA coach-café 3024
  • Exx-CN 3024
  • Nee-CN EM-85, 82-seat lightweight coach 5546 built 1954.

Contacts

  • Address: 555 Oak Street East, North Bay, ON
  • email: info@ontc.on.ca
  • Fax: 705-472-6535
  • Phone: 705-472-4500 or 1-800-363-7512

References

  1. Province winds down Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  2. Ferguson, Rob (16 August 2012). Ontario Northlander train to make its last run Sept. 28. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  3. Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (Press release). Government of Ontario. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  4. Transformation Update. Retrieved on 2014-12-26.
  5. [1]
  6. [2]
  7. [3]
  8. "Ontario Northland Extends Bus Service Northwest to Thunder Bay". Press release. Ontario Northland. 12 February 2020.
  9. "Ontario Northland suspends launch of Thunder Bay bus route." 17 April 2020. North Bay Nugget.
  10. "Ontario Northland launches scheduled bus service between Thunder Bay, White River, Winnipeg." 14 May 2020. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. Witnesses recall March ’73 bus crash near Barrie that left 12 dead, www.thebarrieexaminer.com, retrieved on 2013-05-18.

External links