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Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation

NorthernTracks said:
You ever ride a bus for 12+ hours, overnight no less?

Not only is bus travel uncomfortable for longer distances, but it's subject to the same highway closures as cars are. As mentioned in the UIBC for the Northlander, highways in this region are subject to regular closures due to collisions and terrible weather conditions. There are too often no detours.

Are trains perfect? No, they have their difficulties... just like any other mode. However, Northern Ontario needs a true reliable alternative to the highway.

Most communities along this route don't have air service anymore. Air Canada is pulling out of North Bay in January.
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I took a bus to Quebec City once. 9+ hours on an uncomfortable rattlebox. It was the worst. I swore I'd never do something like that again, and 30 years later I've stuck to it! **** buses.
 
Bojaxs said:
My thinking is the Ford government is funding this project in anticipation of the Ring of Fire. They believe that having a passenger rail service to whisk workers up north will make Ontario a more attractive place for mining companies to invest.

I suspect the whole setup will be somewhat similar to oil workers in Fort MacMurray. Workers will ride the train up to Timmins or Cochrane, where they'll then get on a company charter flight into the ring of fire. Once in the ROF they'll spend 2 weeks in an encampment and have 1 week off.

Part of the reason I suspect this is because Timmins airport is currently undergoing upgrades and renovations.
www.northernontariobusiness.com

Work starts on Timmins airport upgrades

The plans being drafted this year will allow for the work to be done in 2026
www.northernontariobusiness.com www.northernontariobusiness.com
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I'm trying to think of a reason why a government would spend public money to fund the HR needs of for-profit companies, and why they would assume that all of the miners would travel to and from the GTA.
 
Bojaxs said:
My thinking is the Ford government is funding this project in anticipation of the Ring of Fire. They believe that having a passenger rail service to whisk workers up north will make Ontario a more attractive place for mining companies to invest.

I suspect the whole setup will be somewhat similar to oil workers in Fort MacMurray. Workers will ride the train up to Timmins or Cochrane, where they'll then get on a company charter flight into the ring of fire. Once in the ROF they'll spend 2 weeks in an encampment and have 1 week off.

Part of the reason I suspect this is because Timmins airport is currently undergoing upgrades and renovations.
www.northernontariobusiness.com

Work starts on Timmins airport upgrades

The plans being drafted this year will allow for the work to be done in 2026
www.northernontariobusiness.com www.northernontariobusiness.com
Click to expand...

With where the RoF would connect to the rail network,there is no reasonable rail link from the Timmins/ Cochrane area to the R0F. The Pagwa Sub does not connect to CN's line in Longlac. Maybe that section will get replaced.

nfitz said:
I assume that ONR will be ending that once the train is restored. If they don't - then who is left to ride the milk train?
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Going north, NB has 4 buses and Timmins has 3. The train is not stopping at all the stops those buses serve. They may go down by 1 or 2, bu the routes will still have buses.
 
lenaitch said:
I'm trying to think of a reason why a government would spend public money to fund the HR needs of for-profit companies, and why they would assume that all of the miners would travel to and from the GTA.
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What do you mean by HR? Human Resources?

I mean, I wouldn't doubt a large portion of workers would come from the GTA or anywhere along the rail line.

What airport in Northern Ontario can handle flights from across Ontario/ Canada? North Bay?
 
Bojaxs said:
What airport in Northern Ontario can handle flights from across Ontario/ Canada? North Bay?
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For Ring of Fire?

What does it have to do with North Bay? It's closer to Winnipeg than North Bay! North Bay is closer to New York City than it is to the Ring of Fire.

I feel I'm missing something.

There used to be a warning sign up at the University job (for students) office when I was there. "The scale on the Northern Ontario map is bigger than than the South"

1758684823561.png


There's about 200 active mines in Canada. Mostly remote. There isn't that much unusual about what they'll have to do for staffing - even if they get up to a dozen or so mines there simultaneously.
 
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nfitz said:
For Ring of Fire?

What does it have to do with North Bay? It's closer to Winnipeg than North Bay! North Bay is closer to New York City than it is to the Ring of Fire.

I feel I'm missing something.

There used to be a warning sign up at the University job (for students) office when I was there. "The scale on the Northern Ontario map is bigger than than the South"

View attachment 683388

There's about 200 active mines in Canada. Mostly remote. There isn't that much unusual about what they'll have to do for staffing - even if they get up to a dozen or so mines there simultaneously.
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Did you quote me? You're quote is showing someone else's username.

I'm just trying to figure out which airport is the busiest in Northern Ontario. Hence I said North Bay.

How are the mines planning on getting their workers into the RoF?
 
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Bojaxs said:
Did you quote me? You're quote is showing someone else's username.
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How odd - it was a simple reply, I'm not sure how that happened!

Bojaxs said:
I'm just trying to figure out which airport is the busiest in Northern Ontario. Hence I said North Bay.
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Assuming it's in Northern Ontario. Yeah I know - technically anything north of the French River.

Either Sudbury (triple the population of North Bay) or Thunder Bay (double the population of North Bay). If you get away from the Great Lakes, then it's Timmins, that's 80% of the population of North Bay.

Bojaxs said:
How are the mines planning on getting their workers into the RoF?
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Presumably the same way that many mines already get their staff into very remote areas.
 
Bojaxs said:
I'm just trying to figure out which airport is the busiest in Northern Ontario. Hence I said North Bay.

How are the mines planning on getting their workers into the RoF?
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The original question was which airport "can handle flights from across Ontario/Canada". Without getting airport cards out and without knowing the type of aircraft you are envisioning, my quick answer would be all of the airports at any of the northern cities. Heck, Dryden used to have regular service from DC9s and Fokker F28s. If the question is 'busiest', not sure. That metric can be defined by passenger movements, cargo tonnage or aircraft movements.

Assuming the RoF will have its own strip, the most logical jump off for whatever shuttle aircraft they intend to service it with would be Thunder Bay but it could be others. That's a company decision. One thing that might drive the decision is connections so miners can get home. That might favour Winnipeg.

dowlingm said:
Speaking of mines, the federal application documents for the Crawford Nickel project indicate that it contemplates an extension of the existing ONR Kidd mine spur 20km further north

ArcGIS Web Application

stantec.maps.arcgis.com stantec.maps.arcgis.com
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Good timing since I think Kidd is slated to close in 2026; although it will apparently be a few more years until Crawford is producing. It's going to be big, and they are still core drilling.
 
Timmins and Thunder Bay are busy due to they are a hub for the FN communities without road access. Sudbury, and Timmins are busy due to the mining activity in the area. North Bay is quiet due to no real heavy regular draw to it.
 
NorthernTracks said:
My latest column:

northerntracks.blog

Resolving problems with northern transportation requires real conversations

If you could look into a crystal ball to see into the future, what questions would you want answered relative to how people get from A to B in Northern Ontario? Would you ask what makes for an effi…
northerntracks.blog northerntracks.blog
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I feel that if we want real passenger rail transit in Northern ON,it needs to be provincial. Via is all but useless. My personal hope is that the return of the Northlander is a success and it causes the province to look for other undeserved areas.
 
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