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No Plans For NWO Passenger Rail

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Don’t expect passenger rail service to expand into northwestern Ontario anytime soon.

The province announced this past week the addition of a new Ontario Northland 13-stop route on the CN rail line from Toronto to Timmins or Cochrane.

Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney says an extension isn’t on the horizon.

“While our Northern Transportation Plan itself does study and look at all regions across northern Ontario and goes all the way to the Manitoba border, that doesn’t mean that this specific network we’re discussing today will go that far,” she admits.

Mulroney says the plan will continue to look at transportation needs and opportunities across the north.

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Report Deals With Regional Rail Travel

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A lobby group says there’s no one-size fits all answer for passenger rail for the Northwest.

A Northern Policy Institute study says regularly-scheduled passenger rail doesn’t make economic sense in the region because of the distance between communities and low population.

It notes using discontinued freight rail infrastructure might not be as cheap or easy as one would think.

However it says some areas could benefit from short-line, short-season tourist rail, and service could also help Indigenous communities.

The study also predicts that even without rail service, expanding the bus network will still help the region.

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CP Rail Crossing Closure

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A notice to the travelling public in the Dryden area.

The CP Rail Crossing at Glengoland Road will be closed tomorrow. (Wednesday, September 17th)

It will be off-limits from 9:00am until 2:00pm.

The disruption is due to crossing repairs.

 

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TSB Reports On Dangers At Rail Crossings

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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released the results of a probe of a fatal incident in British Columbia.

The report highlights the need for more railway crossing safety.

The results of the investigation reiterates a need for improved safety, especially at crossings that are designated for those using assistive devices including wheelchairs..

Their probe was on an incident in Chilliwack in May of 2018.

A man in a motorized wheelchair was struck by a CN train after his wheelchair became stuck in the gap at the crossing.

Two motorists stopped to assist him and one was hit and suffered serious injuries.

In their investigation, they make reference to a similar incident in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2016.

29-year-old Stephen Harel was struck and killed when his wheelchair became stuck at a crossing.

Following that incident, recommendations were made, and CN made repairs to the crossing, including sidewalk areas.

But the TSB says the most recent incident highlights risks that still remain.