As 2026 dawns, the long-promised return of the Northlander is no longer stuck at the station. Ontario Northland has released a proposed service schedule for the Northlander, offering what travel between Timmins and Toronto could look like when passenger rail service resumes later this year.
The original Northlander service was discontinued in 2012 and replaced by buses.
Under the proposed timetable, southbound trains would depart Timmins at 12:15 a.m., making 13 additional stops in Northern Ontario – including Matheson, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Englehart, Temiskaming Shores and Temagami – before arriving at Toronto’s Union Station at 10:55 a.m.
Northbound service would leave Union Station at 6:30 p.m., with an early-morning arrival in Timmins at 5:10 a.m.
The route spans roughly 740 kms between Timmins and Toronto and includes a rail connection to Cochrane. Ticket prices have not yet been announced, with Ontario Northland indicating fares will be determined closer to the service launch.
The proposed schedule caps a year of progress on a project that has been years in the making.
In July, construction began on the Timmins-Porcupine Station on Falcon Street, which will serve as the northern terminal for the Northlander. Provincial officials said the station is being built in phases to ensure the service can begin even if interior work continues.
Once complete, the station will feature accessible platforms, washrooms, seating, a ticket counter, parking, bus bays and drop-off areas. Early work has focused on the platform, parking lot and passenger waiting areas, with the possibility of temporary facilities if needed when service begins.
Ontario transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria has repeatedly highlighted the importance of restoring passenger rail to Northern Ontario, framing the Northlander as a tool to support economic development, tourism and connectivity across the region. He has also said the province will work closely with communities when determining ticket prices, acknowledging affordability concerns.
Track and infrastructure upgrades continued throughout 2025.
Ontario Northland CEO Chad Evans has said the final timeline largely depends on the arrival of the new train sets, expected in early 2026. Once delivered, the trains will undergo several months of testing before an official launch date is announced.
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