Travel advisory for Ontario

Travel advisory for Ontario

Please check in with Ontario Northland Customer Care to confirm if your scheduled trip is operating by calling 1-800-461-8558.

For further details on weather alerts, please visit https://meteo.gc.ca/index_e.html

STORM WARNING

Ontario Northland understands the importance and responsibility of getting our passengers and parcels to their desired locations on time without compromising safety. At Ontario Northland, we take pride in making every effort to ensure that our service will run every day as scheduled.

Ontario Northland is constantly monitoring road and weather conditions. This may lead to Storm Warnings being issued, affecting certain routes. When a storm warning is issued, current and/or imminent weather conditions may cause hazardous travel conditions resulting in the possibility of any of the following scenarios:

  • Ontario Northland service will be delayed
  • The service will be interrupted enroute
  • Ontario Northland service will be cancelled

If your schedule allows, we suggest that you postpone your trip until a later time when the warning is lifted. During a Storm Warning, Ontario Northland will rebook your ticket to a later date at no charge. Passengers scheduled to travel on a route that is cancelled due to a Storm Warning (Travel Advisory) will be entitled to a refund. If your route is not under a Storm Warning, standard transaction fees will apply for eligible tickets.

If a passenger decides to travel under a Storm Warning, Ontario Northland will not accept responsibility for any additional costs incurred due to service delays, interruptions, or cancellations. Please ensure that you have planned by taking the following action:

  • Notify anyone who will be picking you up, that delays may occur
  • Ensure that you have additional cash or a debit/credit card to cover any additional needs which may arise

If you decide to leave now, you accept responsibility for any additional expenses that may occur as a result of a delay or interruption of service, as well as any other possible inconvenience. This may include an overnight stay at a hotel.

Please note that unaccompanied children cannot travel when a storm warning is in effect with Ontario Northland.

How will passengers know if a Storm Warning has been posted?

In the event of inclement weather, Ontario Northland advises passengers to regularly check ontarionorthland.ca. If a Storm Warning has been posted for any route, a Travel Advisory will appear on the website.

Ontario Northland route information can also be obtained by:

  • Phone 1.800.461.8558
  • Email us by visiting the Contact Us section
  • Contact a local Ontario Northland Station or agency through the Station Locater tab
  • Follow us through social media via Facebook and Twitter

Northlander Passenger Train

Ontario Northland is proud to be working toward the reinstatement of passenger rail in Northeastern Ontario! 

The passenger train service, also known as the Northlander, will fundamentally shift how people move across the province, creating a more connected, integrated transportation network.

This page will keep you up to date on the progress we are making on reinstating this vital transportation service. Please join us in celebrating each milestone as we mark the important steps we are taking to bring back passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario.

Map

Northeastern passenger rail service will provide service from Toronto to Timmins with a rail connection to Cochrane.  

The route identifies 16 stops including Toronto (Union Station), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins, and Cochrane.  

Northlander Shelter Design and Contract Award Announcement

Ontario Northland hosted Vijay Thanigasalam, former Associate Minister of Transportation , Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound—Muskoka, and Deputy Mayor of Bracebridge Brenda Rhodes to announce a significant milestone toward returning the Northlander passenger rail to service.

Read more on Northlander Shelter Design and Contract Award Announcement

Equipment Announcement

Ontario Northland was pleased to welcome Associate Minister of Transportation Stan Cho to our station in North Bay on Dec. 15, 2022.

Read more on Equipment Announcement

Milestones

  • May 2024: Ontario Northland announces contract awards for the design and manufacture of shelters and track improvements.
  • May 2024: Manufacturing of train sets begin
  • March 2024: Public Information Centre 
  • October to November 2023: Community Connection Events
  • September 2023: Vendor search for required infrastructure development through a market sounding survey.
  • December 15, 2022: Ontario Northland procures three new trainsets.
  • April 10, 2022: The province committed a $75 million investment to bring passenger rail service back and released the Updated Initial Business Case to advance planning of the preferred route. 
  • November 2021: Timmins announced as the terminus station. 
  • May 2021: Release of the Initial Business Case and a proposed service option.  
  • March 2021: The province committed $5 million for planning and design work as part of the 2021 Ontario Budget.  
  • December 2020: Released the draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario. One of the key actions includes continuing to move forward on a plan for passenger rail services. 

Documents

FAQ

What is the Northlander / Northeastern Passenger Rail?

Northeastern passenger rail service, also known as the Northlander, will provide service from Toronto to Timmins with a rail connection to Cochrane. Passengers can board the Polar Bear Express passenger train in Cochrane to travel further to Moosonee and the James Bay Coast.

This service was previously provided by Ontario Northland until it was discontinued in 2012. Ontario Northland is planning for a re-launch of service in the mid-2020s.

When will the Northlander service start?

The province is moving forward to implement next steps. Implementation activities include detailed design and engineering, environmental assessment, Indigenous and municipal consultation and procurement and construction related to station and track improvement. In December 2022 Ontario Northland announced that Siemens will be manufacturing the trainsets. We expect delivery of the equipment in time for a mid-2020s launch

What is Ontario Northland doing now, to prepare for the launch of service?

Thoughtful design, careful decision-making and customer experience is guiding this phase of the project. Multiple workstreams, including engineering, design, and more are in motion. This deliberate planning and preparation is creating the foundation for the launch of this transformative transportation service. Community consultations were held in 2021, and we are looking forward to re-engaging municipalities and Indigenous communities and organizations to further decision-making and planning.

How many stops will the future service include?

The route identifies 16 stops including Toronto (Union Station), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins, and Cochrane.

How much will it cost to ride the Northlander?

Ticket prices have not been confirmed at this time. We recognize the need to keep this service affordable for passengers. The cost of fares will be examined as part ongoing preparation for service.

Is the Northlander ending service in Timmins?

The Business Case selected by the province for return of the Northlander identifies Timmins as a terminus for service, with a rail connection for passengers traveling to Cochrane and connecting to the Polar Bear Express.

What are the potential ridership forecasts?

As outlined in the Updated Initial Business case, by 2041, annual ridership is estimated to be between approximately 40,000 and 60,000.

Where can I find more information about this project?

The full Business Case for the return of passenger rail services is available on the Ontario Northland website.

How can I apply for a job at Ontario Northland?

Ontario Northland is hiring! Visit ontarionorthland.ca.careers to learn more about our current vacancies.

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Northlander's Return