A quick divergence  from GO Transit to the Ontario Northland, another Ontario operated Railway line from Toronto northward:

Ontario Northland Railway, a vital public transportation link for remote Northern Ontario towns is being sold and decomissioned in the name of austerity, and why? Apparently $100 million a year in subsidy is too much money, and on the surface it may seem that way. Privatizing Ontario Northland will not end the subsidies, and by comparison to the $3.9 billion spent on new highways to Sudbury AND North Bay, the Ontario Northland is a cost effective subsidy this Ontario resident is willing  to live with.

In its simplest form, the Ontario Northland provides Freight train, Passenger rail, Bus, Ferry (Moosonee to Moose Factory) and Telecommunications services to remote communities in Northern Ontario, between North Bay, Ontario and Moosonee in the North, and Hearst in the North-West, and Rouyn Nouranda in Quebec (connecting Ontario to CN lines in Quebec and Montreal).

The Northlander is a daily passenger train from Toronto to Cochrane, which is proposed to be cut in the last Ontario Budget, while the Cochrane to Moosonee “Polar Bear Express”, a vital transportation link will continue along with it’s subsidy.

Ontario Northland bus services will be sold to the private sector, where they too, will request a subsidy as illustrated in the $30 million Greyhound Manitoba debacle

Ontario Northland Freight services (Rail freight) has been the backbone of the Northland for many years, most often profitable, so much so that Canadian National tried to buy the ONR in 2002/3 and failed due to Job guarantees. You can bet CN is gunning to purchase the ONR, especially after the Government has downplayed their financial performance, CN will ultimately steal the railway from under our noses if it’s not sold with an accurate, transparent bidding process!

The total subsidy in 2011 (According to ONTC public Financial reports) is $46 million or $3.83 per Ontario resident. (This is contrary to Ontario saying it’s $100 million)

Between 2003 and 2011 $3.9 BILLION has been spent on Ontario’s single largest construction project, the Barrie to Sudbury (Hwy 400 extension), and Barrie to North Bay highway 11 twinning (Divided highway with interchanges), which both highways are being blasted through Canadian Shield rock. This amounts to $325 for every single Ontario resident, and in 2009 alone $700 million or $54 per resident was spent on these highways. These highways will also have upkeep and maintenance and I have no doubt it will be more expensive than the Railway option.

So on one hand Ontario’s current Government wants to slash spending, but these highway projects continue and are not yet completed, and a flash in the pan, the Northland, will be cut apparently to save us from our financial ruin.

Ontario also wants to be a leader in new forms of economic development, and the ring of fire is a tantalizing opportunity (link 2) that is only seen once every few generations. The Ontario Northland is one of only two railways in the area, but ONR, and Ontario is apparently broke, and I assume can’t afford to fund a new Railway. However, Canadian National is interested in funding new Railways into northern Quebec, a strategy Quebec is using to bring economic prosperity in the face of a re-newed search as a country to exploit our resource wealth.  CN will likely be tapped for the first Ring of Fire Railway, and all indicators are the railway will connect to CN at Nakina, Ontario.

What does this have to do with Ontario Northland? CN tried to buy the Northland in 2003, the Northland’s route is hundreds of miles shorter for CN’s Quebec traffic, but most importantly, if the Ring of fire is just getting started, multiple companies will vye for new smelters, processing facilities, mines, and possibly Railways to the ring of fire to compete with Cliffs mine and smelter near Sudbury. CN will see Ontario Northland as potential competition, but not if CN purchases the Ontario Northland Railway, now before anyone else (Canadian Pacific, or the Northland itself etc) get into the game..

But in conclusion, I argue the following:

• The subsidy of the Northland as a whole is very small as compared to other forms of transportation, $3.83 per Ontario resident per year as opposed to over $50/year for new highway construction in the same region
• If Northern Ontario residents are to help develop the ring of fire, they need vital transportation links to get around, ONR is that link for many until such time services can be upgraded by other means (such as a substantial increase in population and resultant services improvements)
• ONR can be a vital and prosperous freight rail link to the Ring of Fire should we invest in this, in Quebec, two major railways connect the iron ore belt to the rest of the world and CN is studying a third, the same may hold true for the Ring of Fire in 50 years time or less
• ONR has been profitable in the past, Freight has carried the company for many years, but it’s only the recent economic downturn that has forced increases in the subsidies and losses. Agian the ring of fire plans to change everything, only if Ontario Northland is in the game.

If the Northland is sold off,

• Subsidies will continue, bus operators will demand them or cut services, Moosonee will still get the lions share as they have no other choices other than the rail line (no roadway at all to Moosonee)
• The railway will be sold at fire sale prices, the railway is depressed, but has potential to return, and can be sold off then at much greater prices to realize better taxpayer return
• The Northland will be cancelled, but VIA RAIL shout at least be tasked with continuing the Toronto to Cochrane Northlander services as an alternative to bus transportation

Ultimately, I can’t see any reason why Ontario is so focused on divesting themselves of the ONR, if anything, the realization Ontario can’t fund a Railway into the Ring of Fire and the private sector (Cliffs, CN)’s want of the same Railway has forced this into play, all in the name of Austerity, for a pittance by comparison to our real problems. The next few months will be interesting, I just hope we don’t have another BC RAIL on our hands, folks.

Please post any comments below, and if you want sources of information, find the ONTC public financial reports, or browse the links above or search for your own. I may update this post from time to time.

Guelph Transit has begun to use the Guelph Central Station bus terminal, and here’s a photo showing a train and bus side by side over the weekend:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=3659

This marks the end of 100 years of Transit exchange at St. Georges Square in Guelph, first with Streetcars, later Busses. St. George’s Square will be much more pedestrian friendly now that the every 20-30 minute bus rush will no longer occur in such a small geographic space.

Of interest to GOKW readers, the announcement that Barrie, not an area known for much tourism is to start weekend and holiday GO train service, as a trial basis for the summer months:

What are the chances GO may trial Weekend service to KW? Could it fly? (Weekend Bus ridership would be a good indication)

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/972283/weekend-go-train-service-pilot-for-barrie-corridor-this-summer

Niagara service starts on Victoria Day:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/968597/take-the-go-train-to-niagara-this-victoria-day-weekend

and GO bus service is being inagurated to Niagara On The Lake for weekend and holiday excursions:

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/05/08/go-buses-coming-to-notl

Many Guelphites are aware of the 1866 Drill hall being saved from the  wrecking ball, but GO has gone on record to state the Pedestrian Tunnel will be completed in 2012:

http://www.guelphtribune.ca/news/plans-afoot-for-old-drill-hall/

Again, any commuters have cancelled 1 and 10 ride tickets they can donate to the GHRA? (check www.ghra.ca and use the contact for a mailing address). I’ll even offer to pick up in person if you have one.. to be used for the groups historical archive before Presto cards are mandatory.

An interesting article out of Waterloo region, Metrolinx is still meeting with “The Region” to discuss plans on GO trains to Cambridge, but the budget is obviously not there for a project of this size.

It’s not Metrolinx’ fault though, considering that the Province (MTO) will spend hundreds of millions to widen highways between Parry Sound and Sudbury, or North Bay. $110 million is a flash in the pan compared to some road budget expenditures.

Nonetheless,  this is a good summary of why GO trains to Cambridge have not been pushed much further, mostly due to the double tracking of 17 miles of track from Campbellville to Galt which would be required at a minimum.

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/676771–go-train-dream-for-cambridge-sidetracked

Keep fighting, Cambridge, one day you will win, the 401 can only be widened so many times and so far before realizing the better bang for the buck would be spent on our underutilized people moving corridors such as our rail lines.

- Steve

The following was sent to the Guelph Tribune in response to the following article,

http://www.guelphtribune.ca/news/silvercreek-parkway-extension-worries/

and also copied to the Howitt park Neighbourhood Association (http://www.hpng.ca/):

To the Howitt Park neighbourhood residents:

 It was quite appalling to read in the Guelph Tribune February 21 that
one of your residents is encouraging people to "Just have to cross the
tracks" to access the new development in the Lafarge Lands from Howitt
park, and to avoid placement of fencing along the railway right of way.
All this despite the addition of GO trains on an already busy railway
which is a recipe for more needless deaths.

 Please, fence the railway. On average, one person EVERY YEAR DIES IN
GUELPH on our Railway tracks and most of which on the busy freight and
passenger "North Mainline". Most of the deaths have been unfortunate
incidents of people tresspassing on the railway despite the dangers.
Furthermore, many recent fatailities occured at the adjacent Margaret
Greene park (Guelph Mercury, October 2 2011 and July 29 2007) also due
to reckless trespassing and disregard for railway safety. Does it only
take four months to forget someone has died and to move on as if nothing
happened? Let's not forget the fact CN police could charge anyone
crossing the railway with tresspassing, which comes with a hefty fine
(up to $5000, and possibly jail time).

 You do have an alternative, a legal, signaled public crossing or a
railway tunnel, but who will foot the multi million dollar bill for this
when the Silvercreek Underpass will be built and provide a perfectly
safe alternative?

 The Railway has been in place since 1855 and it was our founding
fathers that decided to cut the park in half in the name of
transportation progress. Only when the railway is properly fenced in
will these accidents be (mostly) prevented.

 Hence, you should take back comments which encourage trespassing on
the railway, those affected by the many deaths would most certainly
appreciate it. Finally anyone who wishes to get involved in promoting
railway safety in the community is encouraged to contact Operation
Lifesaver at http://www.operationlifesaver.ca [1] or if you see unsafe
behaviour, call the CN police at 1-800-465-9239

 Stephen C. Host
 Guelph, Ontario

A reminder: anyone with expired 2 or 10 ride Guelph or Kitchener tickets send any your stamped/used spare tickets to the GHRA, visit their website at http://www.ghra.ca for contact information.

Thanks to reader John C.  sending the following from GO Transit:

Starting Tuesday, February 21, PRESTO, the new fare card, can be used at both Guelph Central and Kitchener GO stations.

You can obtain a PRESTO card at Union Station or any other manned GO station at which PRESTO cards are issued. PRESTO can be used on GO for train trips between PRESTO activated stations as well on GO Buses.

For a limited time, you can save the $6 card issuance fee by switching from GO 10-ride tickets or monthly passes to PRESTO. Simply take your valid 10-ride or monthly pass to Union Station or any other manned GO station at which PRESTO cards are issued to receive the offer.

Visit http://gotransit.com/public/en/fares/presto.aspx for more information.

GO’s 25 year old system for 2 ride and 10 ride paper tickets is coming to end in June 2012. This presentation by Metrolinx, released today indicates the details of the plan:

http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/presentations/Board%20Feb%2016%202012%20Changes%20to%20Ticket%20Cancelling%20on%20the%20GO%20System%20FINAL.pdf

Now, A request: Would a commuter who has used up their paper ticket be so kind to mail your Guelph or Kitchener cancelled tickets to the Guelph Historical Railway Assocaition? This group would welcome saving some of these tickets for our collection, in the near future a Guelph or Kitchener cancelled ticket will be an interesting item for a museum

Please mail your cancelled 2 ride, or 10 ride tickets with Guelph or Kitchener stamps to

G.H.R.A

PO Box 21054
35 Harvard Rd.
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 4T3

Thanks!

Go Transit has answered questions regarding average daily ridership, between December 19 2011 and January 27 2012 the average daily ridership was 150 persons. Divided as follows:

* 85 passengers per day from Kitchener (With about 100 parking spaces provided by the City of Kitchener)

* 65 passengers per day from Guelph (No parking provided by GO, riders have to use City of Guelph parking options)

According to The Record, these numbers were in line with GO’s estimates for initial ridership, and GO expects ridership to continue to grow.

For comparison, The Barrie expansion in 2007 within 2 months saw ridership numbers of 400+ people, and provided free parking. GO has since re-opened a second station in Barrie (Allandale) and added parking.

It would appear, according to this slide from the VIA Board of Directors, dated June 14 2011 a major investment in track capacity and track improvements is coming. The major investment will be CTC signalling, plus high speed, automated switches, improved sidings, and road crossing protection (such as bells, gates, and warning devices)

This would , in the least provide

• Safer tracks (Avoid near miss accidents such as this which occured in 2006 in New Hamburg west of Kitchener)
• Increased capacity for bi-directional train movements (including reverse commuting)
• And VIA will add two or three trains per direction per day to the line once this is completed (Schedule TBD)

And all of this was planned in the EA for GO Transit expansion, but the news is it appears to be funded. Announcements or confirmation of this is forthcoming, stay tuned.