Ontario Northland
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
Bus roster
Active
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1901-1906 | 2018 | MCI | D4505 | Cummins ISX12 |
| ||
L1907-L1909 | 2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R | ||
L1910-L1914 | 2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E |
| |||
2001-2003 | 2019 | TEMSA | TS 35E |
| |||
5211-5215 | 2011 | Prevost | X3-45 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | Allison B500 | 5214-5215 are retired. | |
5216-5218 | 2011 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 |
| |
5331-5333 | 2013 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 |
| |
5401-5402 | 2014 | MCI | D4505 | Cummins ISX12 |
| ||
5403-5405 | 2014 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 | ||
5501-5503 | 2015 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | Allison B500 |
| |
5601-5603 | 2016 | Prevost | X3-45 | Volvo D13 | |||
B5604-B5609 | 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 |
| ||||
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 | ||||
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 |
| ||
5334-5336 | 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 |
| ||
5991-5993 | 1998 | MCI | 102-DL3 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 |
|
Demonstrators
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13895 | 2016 | MCI | D4500CT | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B500R |
|
Rail roster
Active locomotives
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Class | Engine horsepower |
Gearing top speed |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
202-205 | Acquired 1985,1996 | EMD | EGU | None | None |
| ||
206 | Acquired 2004 | NSC | EGU | None | None | |||
220-221 | Acquired 2019 | EMD | F40PH | 16V-645E3 3200 hp |
| |||
1600-1605 | 1956-57 | GMDD | GP9 | 16V567C 1750hp |
62:15 65mph |
| ||
1730-1737 | 1973-74 | GMDD | SD40-2 | 16V645E3C 3000hp |
62:15 65mph |
| ||
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 |
|||
2100-2105 | 1999 | GMDD | SD75I | 16V710G3C 4300hp |
83:18 70mph |
| ||
2200-2202 | Acquired 2005 | EMD | GP40-2 | 16V645E3 3000hp |
62:15 65mph |
|
Historical locomotives
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Class | Engine horsepower |
Gearing top speed |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1500-1521 | 1951-1953 | GMDD | FP7 | 1500 hp |
| |||
2000-2002 | Built 1954-1956 Rebuilt 1997 |
GMDD | FP7Cat | Cat 16V3516 2075hp |
|
Active railcars
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Type | Seats | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
411-413 | 1953-54 | NSC | Lightweight baggage | |||
600-615 | Acquired 1985, 1994 | HSC | RTC-85 | 54 |
| |
700-703 | Acquired 1985 | HSC | RTC-85 RTC-85SPD |
| ||
830-842 | Acquired 1971 | Pullman-Standard | 85 foot coach | 56 seats |
| |
850-857 | Acquired 1990-1993 | CC&F | "Dayniter" | 52 seats | ||
1408 | Acquired 1990 | CC&F | Café-bar-lounge | |||
1409 | Acquired 1992 | Pullman-Standard | Diner | |||
1410 | Acquired 1992 | CC&F | Entertainment car |
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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Witnesses recall March ’73 bus crash near Barrie that left 12 dead, www.thebarrieexaminer.com, retrieved on 2013-05-18.
- Transit Canada
- Personal notes and sightings