Northlander service, which was discontinued in 2012 and replaced by buses, will span approximately 460 miles (740 kilometers) with 16 stops (see map below). The goal is to “enhance Ontario’s integrated transportation network and advance work on the province’s Draft Transportation Plan for the North,” according to the Ontario government.
The government in April 2022 reported that it would invest C$75 million to reinstate the service and released an Updated Initial Business Case. Later that year, it awarded a C$139.5 million contract to Siemens Mobility for three trainsets (each comprising one locomotive and three passenger cars) to support it.
The first trainset is now undergoing testing and commissioning in Toronto before moving north, where Ontario Northland, the provincially owned operator, will begin testing along the Northlander corridor, according to the government’s Jan. 8 announcement. Testing will “ensure all systems function correctly and meet safety, performance, and operating requirements.”
Each trainset features 169 seats, including accessible seating and washrooms, wide aisles, charging ports, Wi-Fi, and LED lighting. According to the Ontario Northland website, there are two-seat arrangements, single-aisle seats “for extra privacy,” and “pod” setups featuring two bench seats and a table for groups of up to four riders. The cars also include seat numbers and call-for-aid buttons that are marked with Braille signage for riders with visual impairments.
The government awarded EllisDon a contract in 2024 to begin platform reconstruction at stops in North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, and Cochrane, and another contract in 2025 to reconstruct platforms and install pre-manufactured shelters at train stops from South River to Washago. Three separate contracts were awarded for the design and manufacture of nine new station shelters, for track improvements, and for complete warning system upgrades along the Northlander alignment.
In 2025, the province began construction of Timmins-Porcupine Station for Northlander passenger rail, Ontario Northland Motor Coach, and Bus Parcel Express services. It also completed the North Bay Rail Bypass, which connects the CN Newmarket subdivision to the Ontario Northland main line on the Temagami Subdivision and is slated to cut travel times by 15 minutes.
The Northlander is expected to start running this spring, according to CTV News. The Ontario Northland website says it will operate four to seven days per week, based on seasonal travel demands (see proposed service schedule below).
“Today [Jan. 8] 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 [in Toronto] all the way to Timmins and Cochrane,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “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.”
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is delivering on its promise to bring back the Northlander,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation commented. “The Northlander is a key part of our [C]$100 billion 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 arrival of the first of three new trainsets marks a major milestone on our journey toward the new era of the Northlander,” Ontario Northland CEO Chad Evans said. “Designed with comfort, accessibility and safety top of mind, these new trainsets will offer a modern and reliable travel experience for all passengers. We are excited to continue to build momentum as we move another step closer to the launch of service.”
“Thanks to Premier Ford and this government, northeastern Ontario will soon enjoy more connections to essential services such as health care and education, while supporting economic development and tourism in the region,” Ontario Northland Board Chairman Alan Spacek added. “The new Northlander service will fundamentally shift how people move across the province, increasing access to safe, reliable transportation options for years to come.”
“TRACCS Transit and Rail would like to commend the government of Ontario for continuing to invest in sustainable and much-needed transportation connecting Ontario from the north to the south,” said Mark Salsberg, Chair of TRACCS (Transit Rail Association for Canadian Contractors, Maintainers, Operators and Standards). “With these new Siemens trainsets, the Northlander will connect communities to services and economic opportunities that will transform the regions it serves. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this a reality.”
Further Reading:
- Ontario’s Northlander Service Revival Advances
- Northlander Service Revival Advances With Contract Award, Train Design Unveiling
- North Bay Rail Bypass Construction is Completed
