Timmins City Council Institutes Passenger Rail Transit Link for Ontario Northland Corridor

TIMMINS, ON — Timmins City Council approved a six-month municipal transit pilot project on Tuesday night, establishing a dedicated first-mile/last-mile shuttle service to connect the downtown transit terminal directly with Ontario Northland’s passenger rail station in Porcupine.

Transit Integration and Provincial Rail Return

The municipal transit initiative prepares Northern Ontario’s hub city for the full resumption of Ontario Northland’s Northlander passenger rail service between Timmins and Toronto Union Station. Under the approved pilot framework, Timmins Transit will synchronize specialized express bus departures to match incoming and outgoing passenger train schedules.

The service will provide seamless transit connections for regional travelers, post-secondary students at Northern College, and medical patients traveling to regional health centers.

Municipal Funding and Route Optimization

Council approved $65,000 in provincial gas tax fund reallocations to cover initial operating and fuel costs during the six-month trial. Transit planners will track rider boarding data, transfer volumes, and station wait times to assess whether permanent bus route realignments are warranted.

Mayor Michelle Boileau praised the council's forward-looking decision, emphasizing that convenient municipal transit links are vital to maximizing the economic benefits of passenger rail revival across Northern Ontario.

Pilot Launch Date

Timmins Transit confirmed that the pilot shuttle service will launch simultaneously with the formal rollout of the updated Ontario Northland regional rail schedule in October.