Category Archives for "Northern Ontario"

US Rail Passenger Association Urges Canada to Maintain Threatened Services

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Northern Ontario

The National Association of Rail Passengers (NARP) is a US non-government organization advocating for improved passenger rail and rail transit.   They have sent a letter to Canada’s ambassador to the US, Honourable Gary Doer, expressing concern with the announcement that Sault Ste. Marie – Hearst rail service (Algoma Central) will end March 31 and a CBC report this week that Montreal-Halifax VIA Rail Canada service could end in as early as June.

The NARP letter can be viewed here.

All-Party Rural and Northern Ontario Transportation Committee

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Northern Ontario , Press Releases and Open Letters

On November 28, 2013, Bill Walker, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, presented a resolution at Queen’s Park to immediately strike a Rural and Northern Transportation  Committee to study transportation needs in these regions.    Transport Action Ontario was very pleased to see that all parties in the Legislature supported this resolution.

In January, 2014, Transport Action Ontario wrote to Mr. Walker offering congratulations, describing our organization, and providing some preliminary comments on one of our projects  (North Main Line).  We asked to be given the opportunity to speak to this committee.

Our letter can be viewed here:  TAO-letter-Bill Walker

Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN) launched

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Northern Ontario

The Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN) is a network composed of rail advocacy groups and stakeholders from across the region dedicated to the promotion of passenger and freight rail service in this area.  It was officially launched at a well-attended media event in North Bay on August 19, 2013.  This network works in close cooperation with Transport Action Ontario.

A link to the NEORN website is found here.

A Wedding Band of Confederation: Restoring Rail Passenger Service to Ontario’s North Shore and Across Canada

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Major Reports , Northern Ontario

Transport Action’s National Dream Renewed campaign and Thunder Bay Independent MP Bruce Hyer  have released a report on restoring rail passenger service to Ontario’s North Shore and across Canada.    Additional funding was provided by Transport Action Canada’s John McCullum fund.

The report was written by Greg Gormick, noted transportation writer and analyst.  The report identifies the numerous challenges facing VIA Rail Canada, and suggested solutions.  The report concludes that the time for a visionary, but practical rail passenger strategy supported by real government leadership is here, on the north shore and across Canada.

The full report can be viewed here.

ONR-ONTC Closure and Divestiture

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Northern Ontario

With the recent closure of the Northlander passenger rail service, and divestiture announcement of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, Dr. Barry Wellar undertook research on this matter.  Dr. Wellar is Distinguished Research Fellow of Transport Action Canada.  He is principal of Wellar Consulting Ltd.

Dr. Wellar’s research was conducted in early 2013.  It involved sending inquiries to numerous arms of the Ontario government.  His final report found that no evidence was provided or identified to establish that methodologically sound research played a preeminent or partial role in the termination or divestment decisions.

The final report is titled “An Opinion as to the Extent to which the Decisions by Cabinet to Terminate The Northlander and Divest the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission are Based upon, Supported by, Justified by or are Otherwise Derived from Methodologically Sound Research”.  It can be viewed here.