Menu
After a ten-year hiatus in passenger service, the Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban (Algoma Bear Train) may be poised to begin weekend-only operation between Sault Ste. Marie and the south end of Oba Lake if federal or provincial funding can be secured to restore service for residents and visitors to First Nations communities, lodges and camps in the region made famous by the Group of Seven artists.
The Mask-wa Transportation Association Inc. (MTA Inc.) and the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT) hosted a special event at the Agawa Canyon Tour Train Station on Thursday, December 12, 2024 to release the results of a study conducted by CPCS, a leading Canadian railway and infrastructure consultancy.
Mask-wa Transportation Association Inc., a non-profit corporation established by Missanabie Cree First Nation was pleased to announce that after intense analysis by CPCS, an updated Bear Train Business Case has been developed. This new business case includes updated financial projections, which will strengthen the feasibility and viability of the initiative.
Once all the necessary funding is secured, and with support from the Agawa Canyon Railroad line owner Watco, the Bear Train would be able to resume a weekend-only passenger service between Sault Ste. Marie and the south end of Oba Lake. MTA Inc. will approach federal and provincial governments in the new year to request ongoing operating funding for this service.
Watco, which took over operation of the 245-mile stretch of tracks running from the Sault to Oba from CN in 2022 and has continued operation of the seasonal Agawa Canyon Tour Train, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Missanabie Cree First Nation at the time regarding partnership opportunities for the Algoma Central Railway.
“This initiative is about more than transportation—it’s about a critical First Nations project, community connections and regional economic development,” said Chair, David MacLachlan. “We’re excited to bring this vision closer to reality with the support of our partners and community.”
To amplify these efforts, the Campaign for Algoma Passenger Trains will be launching a widespread advocacy campaign to rally support for the Bear Train funding. Community backing is essential to making this project a reality, as it promises significant benefits for First Nations communities and all residents along the Algoma Central Railway route.
To continue service north of Oba Lake, to the junction with the CN main line at Oba and up to Hearst, would require capital investment to repair the Oba Lake bridges there, which Transport Action Canada’s Beyond HFR report asks the federal government to consider.