[Northern Light]

So it would need to back out of Allendale to turn onto the BCRY? The trains are capable of that but I don't know if passengers will enjoy travelling backwards for half their trip.

I'm not sure I understand this, there's a straight run of track beyond Allandale:

 

[innsertnamehere]

I don't think that's at all fair.

Its quite straight-forward to go from Allandale along the BCRY to the 400. IF provision were made within the 400 ROW for rail, its easy lay new track and at the appropriate juncture, side jaunt to Orillia and across (or follow 11 further and make the connection upstream.

Whether or not that should be a top priority is a fair discussion; but its a perfectly viable routing option, in theory.

There are essentially only 3 other choices, (if one wishes to remake the connection); the original route, more or less, which would be problematic for Barrie's waterfront and involve removing some subsequently built homes, tunnelling, or following BCRY beyond the 400 to make a greenfield connection.

That's not to suggest any of that discussion should necessarily be in this thread.

It's a little late for that provision, unfortunately. MTO is already half-way through rebuilding the 400 through Barrie and has left no "room" for such a thing. The remaining contracts will go out in the next 2 years for all the remaining bridge replacements.

MTO's long term plans for 11 are for a 6-lane freeway upgrade from Barrie to Gravenhurst, but I would consider them "Very long term".

They are replacing the Highway 93 interchange right after the 11/400 split in the next few years. When/if 11 does get a full upgrade, my understanding is that MTO plans to shift the highway a few hundred metres to the north between Barrie and Orillia, then follow the existing alignment more or less up to Gravenhurst.

The one part which may proceed sooner is a new interchange and realignment at Gravenhurst to fix the extremely substandard curve there - but that would do nothing for a rail connection from Washago to Barrie.

 

[Sauga89]

I posted my reply to all this on the GO services thread if you want to go look for it there. My apologies to all the northerners. I didn't mean for this to get so off-topic.

 

[nfitz]

You take a train up from the GTA and the cottage owner picks you up. The train stops are nowhere near cottage and no one is walking to any cottage lol

I'm sure it happens (and even done it before the big VIA cuts) - but I'd hardly think it's much the experience of anyone owning a cottage this side of the second world war. Even on this line (where I note they aren't putting back some of the most convenient stations for that kind of thing).

 

[Bordercollie]

I'm sure it happens (and even done it before the big VIA cuts) - but I'd hardly think it's much the experience of anyone owning a cottage this side of the second world war. Even on this line (where I note they aren't putting back some of the most convenient stations for that kind of thing).

With the number of cars going up the 400, in sure that there is demand to run a commuter train from Sudbury to Barrie and then on to Toronto. But if you can drive from Parry sound to Toronto in two and a half hours but the train takes 6 (like the Canadian) it makes no sense.

 

[nfitz]

With the number of cars going up the 400, in sure that there is demand to run a commuter train from Sudbury to Barrie and then on to Toronto. But if you can drive from Parry sound to Toronto in two and a half hours but the train takes 6 (like the Canadian) it makes no sense.

A commuter train from Sudbury.

What next, one from London?

Sure, extending the current service to Midland or Parry Sound will pick up a few passengers. But really?

I suppose you could have a half decent set of lines into Barrie if you really wanted to, from various locales.

 

[Bordercollie]

A commuter train from Sudbury.

What next, one from London?

Sure, extending the current service to Midland or Parry Sound will pick up a few passengers. But really?

I suppose you could have a half decent set of lines into Barrie if you really wanted to, from various locales.

The Canadian already goes from Sudbury to Parry sound to washago down the Bala sub. The stations already exist.

 

[lenaitch]

Midland

No rail.

The Canadian already goes from Sudbury to Parry sound to washago down the Bala sub. The stations already exist.

"Commuting" from Sudbury to Toronto. Really?

 

[micheal_can]

A commuter train from Sudbury.

What next, one from London?

Sure, extending the current service to Midland or Parry Sound will pick up a few passengers. But really?

I suppose you could have a half decent set of lines into Barrie if you really wanted to, from various locales.

Aline that has timings that work for people for the cottage rush going north and able to get them home on Sunday evening at a reasonable hour isn't a horrible idea. The challenge with any new train service is timing. The new Northlander is doing just that. They are bringing back a schedule that was what the majority of users would want.

 

[Bordercollie]

Aline that has timings that work for people for the cottage rush going north and able to get them home on Sunday evening at a reasonable hour isn't a horrible idea. The challenge with any new train service is timing. The new Northlander is doing just that. They are bringing back a schedule that was what the majority of users would want.

Barrie is a bedroom community for Toronto. Orillia and the surrounding areas are bedroom communities for Barrie.
Also we should start with the bus schedule being more convenient to get to and from Barrie and Toronto or Toronto to Barrie. Currently it's convenient to go from Barrie to Toronto in the morning but going from Toronto to Barrie you might as well drive before 11am.

 

[nfitz]

No rail.

Most of the ROW exists. Gone north of Elmvale, but nothings been built.

Yeah, unlikely though unless there's significant densification.

 

[micheal_can]

Barrie is a bedroom community for Toronto. Orillia and the surrounding areas are bedroom communities for Barrie.
Also we should start with the bus schedule being more convenient to get to and from Barrie and Toronto or Toronto to Barrie. Currently it's convenient to go from Barrie to Toronto in the morning but going from Toronto to Barrie you might as well drive before 11am.

The challenge is that the bus will be stuck in the horrible cottage crawl. It is no different than go buses sitting in rush hour and thinking that is a good thing. Having said that, a bus leaving Barrie around 6pm could be a good thing.

https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/communications/schedules/062224/2024-07-22-SCHED-201-202-EN.PDF

 

[lenaitch]

Most of the ROW exists. Gone north of Elmvale, but nothings been built.

Yeah, unlikely though unless there's significant densification.

Ah, the North Simcoe Railway/Penetanguishene Spur. Torn out in the early 1970s I believe. It didn't go to Midland, but close. Midland was served by the CN Midland Sub out of Orillia.

 

[nfitz]

Ah, the North Simcoe Railway/Penetanguishene Spur. Torn out in the early 1970s I believe. It didn't go to Midland, but close. Midland was served by the CN Midland Sub out of Orillia.

The Penetanguishene Sub had a spur built around 1911, coming off it at Concession 2 connecting to the Midland sub at the wye at Tay. This was the Wyebridge Subdivision - which was abandoned in the 1930s. But yes, the last mile would have been on the old Midland sub.

Here's the old Wyebridge train station.

 

[lenaitch]

The Penetanguishene Sub had a spur built around 1911, coming off it at Concession 2 connecting to the Midland sub at the wye at Tay. This was the Wyebridge Subdivision - which was abandoned in the 1930s. But yes, the last mile would have been on the old Midland sub.

Here's the old Wyebridge train station.

View attachment 617718

Yes it did! A friend's laneway was part of the old ROW.

We used to live in Wyebridge. Any idea where that station was? I've not seen that image before.

There was also a spur that broke off somewhere around Elmvale and swung over to Hillsdale (it was apparently called the Hillsdale Tram) but I've not seen anything about the alignment.

Edit: Or the Flos Tram, I can't remember.