Testing underway for Northlander service relaunch

The province of Ontario recently announced the Northlander passenger-rail service has begun a critical testing phase on its path to a relaunch later this year. 

The service that ran from Cochrane and Timmins to Union Station in downtown Toronto was cancelled  14 years ago. Several months of rigorous testing for the return of service now is being conducted along the entire route. 

The province is nearing completion of “burn-in” testing on the first trainset. The train will soon enter the next phase of testing and commissioning: a revenue service demonstration. During this testing phase, operator Ontario Northland will train staff on the equipment, conduct emergency exercises, test schedules and make sure all safety and operating systems are working properly. 

A confirmed return-to-service date will be announced in the coming months as testing proceeds, province officials said in a press release. The Northlander will run 460 miles and feature 16 stops.