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1/9/2026
The first of three new Northlander trainsets has arrived in Ontario, marking a milestone in the province's effort to return the passenger-rail service that was discontinued and replaced with buses in 2012.
Once operational, the Northlander route will span 460 miles with 16 stops between Timmins and Toronto and a connection to Cochrane, Ontario government officials said in a press release.
Produced by Siemens Mobility, the trainsets each consist of one locomotive and three passenger cars. The first set is undergoing testing and commissioning n Toronto. Ontario Northland, the province-owned transit agency, will also test the trainset on the Northlander corridor. Passenger-rail service is anticipated to start in 2026, Ontario officials said. A service timeline was not included in the press release.
In 2025, construction began on the northernmost Timmins-Porcupine Station. The province awarded a contract to reconstruct platforms and install shelters along the Northlander corridor and completed the North Bay Rail Bypass, which will slash travel times by 15 minutes.
Ontario is returning the service back as part of a larger C$100 billion economic growth plan that calls for improved transportation in northern communities to improve access to good-paying jobs, education and health care, Ontario officials said.