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

The Polar Bear Express Passenger Train

The Polar Bear Express passenger train is an essential transportation service used primarily by the residents of Moosonee and Moose Factory travelling to and from Cochrane, Ontario. The train is also used by passengers travelling to fish, hunt, camp and participate in the many tourism activities in the region.  

What to Expect on your Train Trip?

Our services provide an unparalleled experience, making the decision to travel by train easy.

  • Comfort: The seats on the train are comfortable and spacious. Seats are configured in groups of four or in two. 
  • Storage Space: One of the benefits of our passenger coaches is the many areas to store baggage and belongings. We understand that passengers travelling on this trip travel with more supplies and goods compared to other railways.
  • Scenic Views: Gaze out of the window and lose yourself in the idyllic scenery of Northern Ontario.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi and On-Board Entertainment System: We are excited to introduce this enhancement to our service in 2024.

Tickets and Seat Reservations

The Polar Bear Express departs Cochrane at 9 am and arrives in Moosonee at 2:00 pm. The train departs Moosonee at 5 pm and arrives in Cochrane at 10:00 pm. Between the end of October and June, the passenger train service operates on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please check our website at https://tickets.ontarionorthland.ca for the current schedule.

Ontario Northland uses a reservation-based system, that allows you to select your seat and purchase your ticket. Customers can print their tickets or ask the ticket agent in Moosonee or Cochrane to do so before boarding the train. Please present your printed paper ticket to the conductor.

Alternatively, customers may choose to present an electronic ticket (viewable on a mobile device) to the conductor, along with government photo ID. 

Tickets can be purchased by phone at:

  • Cochrane: 1-800-265-2356 or 705-272-4228 (7:00am-10:30pm Daily)
  • Moosonee: 1-705-336-2210 (10:00am-6:00pm Mon–Fri)
  • Timmins: 1-705-264-1377 (6:00am-10:30pm Daily) 

Onboard Policies

Stations & Stops

The Cochrane and Moosonee Stations have friendly ticket agents available to assist you before or after your trip. For passengers boarding at a Flag Stop location, please contact us prior. Please note all flag stop times are approximations.

Dining Car

The Polar Bear Express Dining Car is the most popular attraction on the trainset. A favourite feature for locals and tourists alike, the dining car offers a memorable culinary experience for all passengers set against the backdrop of the breathtaking landscape of Northern Ontario.

The Dining Car serves an array of breakfast, lunch and dinner options which not only change with the season, but are freshly prepared on board. Check out the menu:

Menu

Wi-Fi & ON-Board Entertainment

The Polar Bear Express Wi-Fi service is Ontario Northland’s all-in-one, free internet connection and entertainment portal. With more options than ever, this upgrade gives customers access to Wi-Fi service and various entertainment options to enjoy during their travels. 

Passengers can now:

  • Watch a variety of content, including dramas, comedies, news and documentaries.
  • Listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks to make the journey more enjoyable.
  • Dive into e-books across multiple genres for a truly immersive experience.

How to Connect: From your phone, tablet or laptop go to wi-fi setting and choose “ON Board Wi-Fi” and connect. Using an Android device or laptop? Open your browser and enter in onboard.ontarionorthland.ca (iOS devices will redirect automatically). 

Having trouble connecting? If you have already signed on, please wait a few minutes and try again. You can inquire with the driver at the next stop but note that there may be a technical issue or service interruption. For assistance please email passengercare@ontarionorthland.ca or call 1-800-461-8558. 

Please be aware that services maybe limited at times and some applications and sites maybe blocked.

Travelling with Children

Tickets for children under the age of two (2) are not required when they are not occupying a seat. Please let the Customer Service Sales Agent know you are travelling with an infant under the age of 2, and a notation will be made on the passenger manifest so the Conductor is aware of the infant travelling with the adult.

Baggage

The Polar Bear Express is equipped with a baggage car, allowing passengers to check their baggage before they depart. Each ticketed passenger is allowed a maximum of three (3) pieces of checked baggage at no charge (weighing a maximum of 23 kg or 50 lbs). Additional pieces may be checked at an additional charge of $15.00 each. Ontario Northland also provides an Express Freight service allowing passengers to ship oversized and/or overweight baggage up to 34 kg or 75 lbs.

The following articles may be checked as baggage:

  • Any type of gun, firearm, replicas, ammunition, explosives, or weapons, including cross-bows and arrows (must be locked and secured in proper receptacles)
  • Sharp objects such as axes, ice picks, knives or swords (must be locked and secured in proper receptacles)
  • Plants
  • Bicycles
  • Groceries (not in excess of 23 kg or 50 lbs and properly packed)

Each ticketed passenger is also allowed a maximum of one piece of carry-on baggage. Personal items such as purses, briefcases, laptops, or infant items such as strollers, car seats or diaper bags are not included in this limit. For more information visit Rules and Regulations or contact us by phone at 1-800-265-2356.

 

Auto Carrier Reservations

Each year Ontario Northland transports over 3,000 vehicles between Cochrane and Moosonee on the Polar Bear Express mixed train. This means you can easily ship your car, van, SUV, and/ or Truck between these two communities.

To learn more about Auto Carrier Reservations,

Click Here

 

Safety & Security

Ontario Northland is committed to providing a safe and pleasant environment for all its passengers and employees. Disrespectful or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated on board Ontario Northland transportation services or in our stations. To find out more view our On Board Policies.

There is a security guard on each train trip committed to keeping the on-board experience safe.

Regulations and Terms

The Cochrane Station Inn 

Many passengers travelling on the Polar Bear Express passenger train choose to stay at the Cochrane Station Inn. 

Our contemporary rooms will relax you the moment you arrive. Enjoy your favourite shows on a 37” flat panel television, and increase productivity during your stay thanks to features like high-speed wireless access. Relax and refresh yourself with our calming showerheads. The guest bathroom also boasts natural stone countertops. Our Northern Ontario hotel is just steps away from The Tim Horton Museum, the Polar Bear Express train and several of Cochrane's dining options: the best the area has to offer is just outside our doors.

Whether you’re here for business or fun, the friendly staff at The Station Inn will make your stay comfortable.

 

Make a reservation