[bpbpbpbp]

If it were not abandoned, it would solve many issues. However, the chances of relaying tracks is ...well, highly unlikely.

Barrie’s lakeshore is really nice with great trails, views and beaches…..but the train guy in me can’t help but feel like rail along there would be better.

Would make the Northlander a true parallel for the 400*** and its use case as a cottage country shuttle would probably be very strong.

CN’s rationale for abandonement was that the Newmarket was lightly used, and Bala paralleled it, right? According to wikipedia, CN applied to abandon the whole thing to the York sub, but the gov bought it to Barrie. Did the provincial government ever consider swooping in to save the whole thing to Orillia?

 

[micheal_can]

Barrie’s lakeshore is really nice with great trails, views and beaches…..but the train guy in me can’t help but feel like rail along there would be better.

Would make the Northlander a true parallel for the 400*** and its use case as a cottage country shuttle would probably be very strong.

CN’s rationale for abandonement was that the Newmarket was lightly used, and Bala paralleled it, right? According to wikipedia, CN applied to abandon the whole thing to the York sub, but the gov bought it to Barrie. Did the provincial government ever consider swooping in to save the whole thing to Orillia?

The Barrie area isn't the issue. It is the Orillia area that is. You can use existing lines to get over to the CPKC and then go back towards Orillia. The problem is the ROW has been built on through Orillia enough that putting tracks through it would be the bigger issue. Fantasy world would see those properties expropriated. Reality is, it is not worth it. At least not for the foreseeable future.

 

[bpbpbpbp]

The Barrie area isn't the issue. It is the Orillia area that is. You can use existing lines to get over to the CPKC and then go back towards Orillia. The problem is the ROW has been built on through Orillia enough that putting tracks through it would be the bigger issue. Fantasy world would see those properties expropriated. Reality is, it is not worth it. At least not for the foreseeable future.

BCRY to Utopia and then onto the MacTier is what I imagine you’re talking about, but the. hwo do you get back to Orillia? It’s quite a ways from the CPKC. Rail trails?

Also all of these switches lead me to believe that Barrie to Orillia would be a very slow route

 

[crs1026]

The Barrie to Orillia segment is gone, period. Sad, but true. Any dream of restoring it is patently futile. Nice fantasy, but not gonna happen.

I would bet my house on that.

So, let's stick with reality.

- Paul

 

[NorthernTracks]

The Barrie to Orillia segment is gone, period. Sad, but true. Any dream of restoring it is patently futile. Nice fantasy, but not gonna happen.

I would bet my house on that.

So, let's stick with reality.

- Paul

Can I get in on those odds too?

 

[micheal_can]

BCRY to Utopia and then onto the MacTier is what I imagine you’re talking about, but the. hwo do you get back to Orillia? It’s quite a ways from the CPKC. Rail trails?

Also all of these switches lead me to believe that Barrie to Orillia would be a very slow route

Orllia GO - Google My Maps

From he Barrie Line north to Orillia and to Washago

www.google.com

That is what I looked at before.

If I were a betting man, at mid 40s, I will not live to see it happen. So, my bet is 2100 rolls around and this does not happen.

 

[bpbpbpbp]

Orllia GO - Google My Maps

From he Barrie Line north to Orillia and to Washago

www.google.com

That is what I looked at before.

If I were a betting man, at mid 40s, I will not live to see it happen. So, my bet is 2100 rolls around and this does not happen.

I’m on the fresh side of my twenties and yeah that’s not happening in my grandkids’ lives lol

 

[micheal_can]

I’m on the fresh side of my twenties and yeah that’s not happening in my grandkids’ lives lol

The only way it could even be worth looking into is if Orillia decided to expand to well over double their population. At 33,000, even doubling it is not really much of a business case. And a passenger train or 2 north is also not enough of a business case. It is a half hour drive to Barrie. When/if that ever gets bad, and after it has been widened to 6 lanes, maybe someone will think of doing a real business case for it.

 

[lenaitch]

Remember the Northlander was reinstated partly to support resource development, like new mines in the Ring of Fire. Such development would create new demand for north-south travel connections including for labour (the mines themselves would presumably be fly-in-fly-out). If the new demand materializes, it would presumably support the Northlander service but also might justify expansion.

Also, recall that Ontario and Alberta signed a memorandum of understanding about a new rail line directly to the Ring of Fire:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-smith-ontario-alberta-mous-1.7578915

You're going to have to point us to something that makes a connection between the return of a northeastern Ontario passenger service with a northwestern Ontario resource project.

That MOU with Alberta is non-binding and pretty loosely worded, making reference to a "possible rail line to the RoF. I haven't heard any talk about a rail line since it was outlined by one of the original developers (Cliffs or Noront - I can't remember). The camp has gone through a number of hands since then.

CN’s rationale for abandonement was that the Newmarket was lightly used, and Bala paralleled it, right?

I don't know what their stated reasons were but the foundations was they had two lines going between the same two points (Toronto and Washago). With diminished on-line customers, holding onto both was redundant. I believe the Bala sub is slightly shorter and was less encumbered by settlement areas.

 

[NorthernTracks]

Trust in trains, government institutions requires public oversight

The Government of Ontario and the Federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities have recently made headlines regarding announcements and discussions held on the topic of p…

northerntracks.blog

 

[lenaitch]

Trust in trains, government institutions requires public oversight

The Government of Ontario and the Federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities have recently made headlines regarding announcements and discussions held on the topic of p…

northerntracks.blog

One thing that jumped out at me in your blog was the number of passengers impacted by the White River-Sudbury cancellation. Forty-four cancellations impacted 326 passengers; meaning an average impacted ridership of roughly 7.5 passengers per train. Telling.

 

[CMQSD402F9011]

Orllia GO - Google My Maps

From he Barrie Line north to Orillia and to Washago

www.google.com

That is what I looked at before.

If I were a betting man, at mid 40s, I will not live to see it happen. So, my bet is 2100 rolls around and this does not happen.

Is it possible for street running in Barrie? Similar to like how streetcar or LRT RoWs are

 

[north-of-anything]

Is it possible for street running in Barrie? Similar to like how streetcar or LRT RoWs are

Oh please God no.

 

[micheal_can]

One thing that jumped out at me in your blog was the number of passengers impacts by the White River-Sudbury cancellation. Forty-four cancellations impacted 326 passengers; meaning an average impacted ridership of roughly 7.5 passengers per train. Telling.

It is winter. That makes sense.

Is it possible for street running in Barrie? Similar to like how streetcar or LRT RoWs are

For so many reasons, no.

 

[Admiral Beez]

It is winter. That makes sense.

Barring avalanches, winter should never be an excuse for delayed or canceled passenger rail service. It’s Canada, it snows.