Freight that talks back: CN to kill ACR passenger service?

Canadian National Railway is planning to abandon passenger rail in Northern Ontario, says Sault MP Tony Martin.

Attending a news conference with Martin today at Algoma Central Railway's Sault office, lodge operator representative Al Errington criticized the American-owned company and accused it of not caring about residents of Northern Ontario.

Errington also accused the federal government of not doing its part to protect the area's $16 million tourism industry.

Martin agreed, saying the feds have let us down again.

Martin and Errington (shown) called the news conference in response to CN Rail's announcement of further cuts to passenger service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst.

CN elected to replace one of the two 1940s vintage trains that used to run on that track with 1960s-era rolling stock that Errington said has about 10 years left in it.

As a result of there being only one train, there can't be service up to Hearst and back on the same day.

Where the trains used to make a trip a day in each direction most days, as recently as last summer, this summer the northbound passenger train will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays while the southbound passenger train will run Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays.

"I expect we will be without CN Rail passenger service in Northern Ontario within the next 10 years," said Errington, who operates a remote lodge specializing in ecotourism on Lake Wabatongushi.

Errington said it's part of a plan to abandon passenger rail in Northern Ontario.

"To CN Rail passengers are just freight that talks back," he said. "It really isn't a priority to them."

He said it has incrementally been reducing the service while the condition of its rolling stock deteriorates.

"If no one uses it because it's too hard to use, then they have an excuse to cancel it," he said.

But the only way to get to Al and Doris Errington's Wilderness Island Resort is by small plane or by train and Errington says a lot of people just don't trust a small plane.

"The train is part of the experience of heading out to a remote location," he said. "It's comfortable and has a lot to offer."

Errington said that there could be a lot more resorts than the five or six that are left along this part of the tracks if only the service were managed efficiently.

"Although the rail company will never make enough money off this service to justify it, the federal government must realize the tourism industry it serves generates a lot of tax dollars and spin-off economic benefits."

He said that these changes to the train schedule are likely to have a major negative impact on his business.

"Many of our guests book as much as a year in advance," said Errington. "These changes, and on such short notice, mean I have to call about one-third of my guests and tell them they can't take the train up here when they had planned to."

"I just hope they only decide to shorten their vacations, not cancel them completely."

Errington said the lodge is not going to be able to offer its popular two-day package to visitors who come by train any more.

And it means he'll have more dead nights when he can't book guests because the train isn't coming.

Errington said the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains is attempting to bring the federal governement and all the affected rail companies to the table to discuss formation of a passenger rail management board consisting of stakeholders, government and rail representatives.

He hopes this organization can manage passenger rail service in Northern Ontario so it will be integrated, easier to use and able to meet the needs of more stakeholders as well as the rail companies.

The full text of CN Rail's announced schedule change appears below.

*************** CN Notice to all Lodge Operators

As announced by the federal government last year, Transport Canada has provided funding for CN to purchase three coaches, one baggage car and a generator car to use in passenger service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ontario. Fully-refurbished equipment, purchased by this government funding will enter service within the next month or two, appreciably improving passenger amenities while assuring safe, timely service to communities and camps along the line.

Given the change of equipment, size of fleet, power requirements and funding envelope, CN will have a single train set on this route. This will necessitate a change in the railway's typical summer schedule.

The summer schedule, effective May 9, 2007, will be the same as CN's current one: the northbound passenger train will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays; the southbound passenger train will run Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays.

Although CN realizes this schedule doesn't satisfy everyone's needs, it's one that it believes will best serve the interests of most stakeholders served by the passenger train. This change of equipment and schedule is vital to ensure CN provides reliable service now and in the future.

Terry O'Brien, Director – Passenger Operations, CN Montreal

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