[micheal_can]

And hopefully there will be a code share agreement like VIA has with the airlines to be able to get a train ticket instead of being stranded. If all flights are booked and the next seat out is in three days a 5 hour train ride is not that bad.

Or if they said that a taxi will take me to the station and they will cover the connections to my flight out of Toronto that would be wonderful. TBH, that is more of a dreamworld than just regular daily passenger service throughout Northern ON. And that is also a dreamworld. I feel I need to contact my MPP to see how to help push for a second passenger service to be a reality.

 

[dowlingm]

You know it's actually really hard to get from North Bay to Sudbury and then to the 400 corridor unless you have a car.
Also to areas west is also difficult unless you take a bus or fly.
A ticket from Toronto to Sudbury can cost $500 each way.
As the population grows there will be a need for alternative basic transportation. Unless we have drones that can carry people safely for hundreds of KMs. I just don't see that happening.

Taking a bus is a valid transportation option. It’s not a great one but if there is a problem with mid-Canadian transportation it’s that there are too few buses, not that there are buses. The problem is that there are not enough people in the north, and the provincial government makes more money squeezing land transfer tax out of Toronto/GTA than making living in the Sudbury-North Bay axis a truly attractive proposition for a wide range of Ontarians to the point where density demands higher order and frequent transit

 

[micheal_can]

Alternatives are a lot easier along the 401, particularly east of Toronto, with alternate routes (although weather can have broad impact) and multiple VIA trains. The reality is northern Ontario is not the 401. You may wish that services were evenly distributed across the province but they're not; they're reflective of population density and distribution. A few million people get more services than a few thousand. No one wakes up in Marathon intending to drive to the Soo only to find the highway closed then expects a train to be waiting for them. You want Toronto-level service? Live in Toronto. You paid roughly 1/4 to 1/5 for a house there than in the Toronto.

The real impact of major highway closures is their impact on the movement of goods, and passenger rail isn't going to solve that. For giggles, compare the traffic volumes of the 401 vs 11 or 17, particularly in the winter. Dig deeper and compare the volumes by vehicle type.

Oh, I know just how low the numbers can get. However, if we did a percentage of a comparison, we would find most traffic on 11or 17 is things that should be on a freight train. But when both main lines are at capacity and no real desire to double track them, nothing will change.

 

[micheal_can]

Taking a bus is a valid transportation option. It’s not a great one but if there is a problem with mid-Canadian transportation it’s that there are too few buses, not that there are buses. The problem is that there are not enough people in the north, and the provincial government makes more money squeezing land transfer tax out of Toronto/GTA than making living in the Sudbury-North Bay axis a truly attractive proposition for a wide range of Ontarians to the point where density demands higher order and frequent transit

To people in rural and Northern ON cities, the bus is seen as being for poor people who cannot afford a car. That is not the same in the GTA. Heck, I bet if you asked all the GO bus riders if they have a car, they likely have a nice one. Different attitudes.

 

[lenaitch]

And hopefully there will be a code share agreement like VIA has with the airlines to be able to get a train ticket instead of being stranded. If all flights are booked and the next seat out is in three days a 5 hour train ride is not that bad.

In the current reality, if the one-and-only flight from NB to Toronto - scheduled for 1340 - is cancelled, you will be hanging around until 0545 the next day for the proposed Northlander, so get comfy. The Northlander fares haven't been set yet but hopefully they will be cheaper than the roughly $400 AC fare.

 

[micheal_can]

In the current reality, if the one-and-only flight from NB to Toronto - scheduled for 1340 - is cancelled, you will be hanging around until 0545 the next day for the proposed Northlander, so get comfy. The Northlander fares haven't been set yet but hopefully they will be cheaper than the roughly $400 AC fare.

There is a hotel within walking distance of the station.... Actually, there are more than one.

 

[lenaitch]

Taking a bus is a valid transportation option. It’s not a great one but if there is a problem with mid-Canadian transportation it’s that there are too few buses, not that there are buses. The problem is that there are not enough people in the north, and the provincial government makes more money squeezing land transfer tax out of Toronto/GTA than making living in the Sudbury-North Bay axis a truly attractive proposition for a wide range of Ontarians to the point where density demands higher order and frequent transit

And what could the government do to make living in the NB/Sudbury axis attractive? There needs to be employment. Better transportation options are going to move the yardsticks very much.

 

[micheal_can]

And what could the government do to make living in the NB/Sudbury axis attractive? There needs to be employment. Better transportation options are going to move the yardsticks very much.

There is plenty of employment here. Having the ability to not have to drive (or take a bus) to Toronto would be a plus.

 

[lenaitch]

There is a hotel within walking distance of the station.... Actually, there are more than one.

I know that. I live here. My reply was in the context of the statement that if a flight is cancelled they can simply get a train. Yes they can, 15 hours later.

 

[micheal_can]

I know that. I live here. My reply was in the context of the statement that if a flight is cancelled they can simply get a train. Yes they can, 15 hours later.

Ah,I mistook it as you did not know whether it would be something people would want to do.

 

[lenaitch]

There is plenty of employment here. Having the ability to not have to drive (or take a bus) to Toronto would be a plus.

Enough to make it:

truly attractive proposition for a wide range of Ontarians to the point where density demands higher order and frequent transit

?

Sorry, I'm not seeing the hordes moving north.

 

[micheal_can]

Enough to make it:

Define enough.
There are already 4 ONR Buses and a Flexi bus serving Sudbury -Toronto daily each way.

 

[dowlingm]

In the current reality, if the one-and-only flight from NB to Toronto - scheduled for 1340 - is cancelled, you will be hanging around until 0545 the next day for the proposed Northlander, so get comfy. The Northlander fares haven't been set yet but hopefully they will be cheaper than the roughly $400 AC fare.

Porter left in 2017 for lack of business.

 

[lenaitch]

Define enough.
There are already 4 ONR Buses and a Flexi bus serving Sudbury -Toronto daily each way.

Are you trying to make the case that people would be willing to commute to Toronto?

You made the statement that there is plenty of employment there, in response to a statement that the government wasn't making it attractive enough for enough people to move there to enable higher density.

 

[lenaitch]

Porter left in 2017 for lack of business.

Founded on the reality that not enough people wanted to go to the Island. The majority of people flying from the north to Toronto are connecting with other flights to other destinations.