Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation

[roger1818]

I just hope that the replacement is potentially of landmark value, and not just a bus shelter.

The following post has renders of what these nine new station shelters will look like. A bit better than a bus shelter but hardly of landmark value.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Three major Northlander contracts awarded.

Sorry short on time so someone may want to extract the images.

View attachment 568311

 

[Admiral Beez]

If it is in poor shape, the question I would ask is, where was the stewardship over the past 12 years while it stood idle? From the photos, it does appear to have had plenty of TLC in earlier times - roof, windows, etc have been updated. Demolition by neglect is a common reality but never to be condoned.

A building this old may have lead (and possibly asbestos) abatement issues and may need HVAC, electrical, and plumbing work to be brought to codes - as well as accessibility changes, etc. If it were to be repurposed, the mods needed will need to last for the next 25 years, so limping along with the legacy amenities just isn't realistic.

I hate to see a landmark building of any type torn down. Heritage is about the connection to the community, and not just how pretty the building is.

But, on a straight comparison of - demolish this building and build a new shelter, versus repurpose this building and invest in it, I can't fault a town with a finite budget for choosing the former.... I just hope that the replacement is potentially of landmark value, and not just a bus shelter.

- Paul

If was still in its original stone facade look I'd say keep it.

What happened to the Parry Sound station?

This historic Ontario train station is on the market for just $1 (PHOTOS) | Urbanized

In the heart of Ontario cottage country, a historic train station has just hit the market with the extremely low asking price of $1.

dailyhive.com

 

[micheal_can]

If was still in its original stone facade look I'd say keep it.

What happened to the Parry Sound station?

This historic Ontario train station is on the market for just $1 (PHOTOS) | Urbanized

In the heart of Ontario cottage country, a historic train station has just hit the market with the extremely low asking price of $1.

dailyhive.com

That station is still there but owned by a private business. It is not used as a station or waiting area for passengers.

 

[Admiral Beez]

That station is still there but owned by a private business. It is not used as a station or waiting area for passengers.

Parry Sound is still an active passenger rail service. https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/ontario/parry-sound Why did they give up the station?

 

[crs1026]

Parry Sound is still an active passenger rail service. https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/ontario/parry-sound Why did they give up the station?

Actually, they have (had) two railway stations.... one on CP for westbounds, and one on CN for eastbounds. The railways have a coproduction agreement with directional running from just south of Parry Sound to south of Capreol.

But neither station building has been occupied by VIA in a decade or more. For two trains a week in one direction, there is no justification to have a ticket agent or waiting room.
Effectively, Parry Sound is a bus stop, but the two stations have been conserved mostly for their heritage value.

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

Actually, they have (had) two railway stations.... one on CP for westbounds, and one on CN for eastbounds. The railways have a coproduction agreement with directional running from just south of Parry Sound to south of Capreol.

But neither station building has been occupied by VIA in a decade or more. For two trains a week in one direction, there is no justification to have a ticket agent or waiting room.
Effectively, Parry Sound is a bus stop, but the two stations have been conserved mostly for their heritage value.

- Paul

Even more...

The trains still stop at these places, but the buildings are not usable for passengers. The platforms are used, but no services exist. It almost could be a flag stop, but there is some sort of platform still there.

 

[roger1818]

Even more...

The trains still stop at these places, but the buildings are not usable for passengers. The platforms are used, but no services exist. It almost could be a flag stop, but there is some sort of platform still there.

As the link the link @Admiral Beez provided says, the CN station building is up for sale. It would be cool if the new owner could make a (tiny) part of their business model to service passengers, but that is unlikely since only the eastbound trains stop at that station. It's probably not worth the cost, but it would be nice if VIA could relocate the stations to have a single "station" near Isabella St, where the tracks are within 50m of each other. Probably easier said than done as there seems to be a drainage ditch between the tracks.

 

[micheal_can]

As the link the link @Admiral Beez provided says, the CN station building is up for sale. It would be cool if the new owner could make a (tiny) part of their business model to service passengers, but that is unlikely since only the eastbound trains stop at that station. It's probably not worth the cost, but it would be nice if VIA could relocate the stations to have a single "station" near Isabella St, where the tracks are within 50m of each other. Probably easier said than done as there seems to be a drainage ditch between the tracks.

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Put a deck over it? I never realized the 2 lines came so close.
If the Canadian was ever a daily, or a separate daily service between Toronto and Sudbury ever happens , then it might be worth doing it.

 

[lenaitch]

As the link the link @Admiral Beez provided says, the CN station building is up for sale. It would be cool if the new owner could make a (tiny) part of their business model to service passengers, but that is unlikely since only the eastbound trains stop at that station. It's probably not worth the cost, but it would be nice if VIA could relocate the stations to have a single "station" near Isabella St, where the tracks are within 50m of each other. Probably easier said than done as there seems to be a drainage ditch between the tracks.

That link is over three years old. It might already be sold.

If you have an active station building, what does that entail? In addition to utilities and taxes, it implies a staff. To do what, particularly if it only for a couple of times a week. Even if it was daily, what role would a bricks-and-mortar building provide that a kiosk cannot? Most if not all ticket sales are online now. The nostalgic days of a building with a ticket agent, freight agent, baggage, maybe an operator, are long gone.

 

[micheal_can]

That link is over three years old. It might already be sold.

If you have an active station building, what does that entail? In addition to utilities and taxes, it implies a staff. To do what, particularly if it only for a couple of times a week. Even if it was daily, what role would a bricks-and-mortar building provide that a kiosk cannot? Most if not all ticket sales are online now. The nostalgic days of a building with a ticket agent, freight agent, baggage, maybe an operator, are long gone.

Some things are long gone and not need in this day and age. However, some basic things,like a heated/air conditioned waiting area with a washroom, along with something to say when the train will arrive should exist at any non flag stop. Parry Sound is a good example of that. However, at 2-4 trains a week, it would be a waste to have anything. That is why I am not pushing much, till there is daily service. Then, I would push for something better.

 

[Fritter]

That link is over three years old. It might already be sold.

If you have an active station building, what does that entail? In addition to utilities and taxes, it implies a staff. To do what, particularly if it only for a couple of times a week. Even if it was daily, what role would a bricks-and-mortar building provide that a kiosk cannot? Most if not all ticket sales are online now. The nostalgic days of a building with a ticket agent, freight agent, baggage, maybe an operator, are long gone.

Like GO Stations, I think it's the amenities the travelling public want. Warm space to wait for train or pickup by last mile transport, wifi, some food or drink to consume while waiting on board. A TVM and a bus shelter is a bare minimum in those wanted amenities.

 

[micheal_can]

Like GO Stations, I think it's the amenities the travelling public want. Warm space to wait for train or pickup by last mile transport, wifi, some food or drink to consume while waiting on board. A TVM and a bus shelter is a bare minimum in those wanted amenities.

GO stations lack washrooms. To me, that is a key thing these future shelters should have. Unlike GO that tends to be on time, most, if not all intercity in Canada does not seem to have the same on time performance.

 

[crs1026]

Like GO Stations, I think it's the amenities the travelling public want. Warm space to wait for train or pickup by last mile transport, wifi, some food or drink to consume while waiting on board. A TVM and a bus shelter is a bare minimum in those wanted amenities.

A vending machine.......For how many riders ?

At a stop like Parry Sound, the Oh Henry bars in the vending machine would likely reach their expiry date before anyone bought them.
´
- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

A vending machine.......For how many riders ?

At a stop like Parry Sound, the Oh Henry bars in the vending machine would likely reach their expiry date before anyone bought them.
´
- Paul

At current number of trains, you are correct.
What if it was 1 train a day each way?
The services are fine for what travels through there. However, if we ever see an expansion beyond what is there now, the services may not be enough.

 

[ShonTron]

A vending machine.......For how many riders ?

At a stop like Parry Sound, the Oh Henry bars in the vending machine would likely reach their expiry date before anyone bought them.
´
- Paul

Some of the candy bars and chips in the vending machine at the VIA station in Saskatoon were well past their best before dates when I passed through in 2023. And that’s a “major” station with a layover.

When the Vancouver Island RDC was running, a catering truck would meet the train on its daily northbound and southbound runs at Nanaimo, where there was a short layover. That guaranteed a better and fresher assortment of snacks and light meals, but then again, the RDC had no food service, so it was your only option. The RDC’s schedule adherence was pretty good too with little other traffic.