Tentative deal to keep Huron Central running (4 p.m. update)

A tentative agreement has been reached today to keep the Huron Central line operating, SooToday.com has learned.

Marc-André Viau, caucus press secretary for the New Democratic Party of Canada, advises us that Sault MP Tony Martin received word of the deal today in Halifax, where he's attending his party's national convention.

The railway's board will be asked to ratify the pact tomorrow.

Sault Ste. Marie City Council will be briefed on the deal at a meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Tony Martin says: "This is the good news I was expecting. There was obviously a strong will by all involved to get this done. The commitments by senior levels of government sealed the deal and we are thankful for that. However there is still much work to be done.

"The future of that important transportation corridor needs to be secured for the longer term. Rail will become more and more important to our future transportation needs both for freight and passenger service.

"We need to be long sighted now. There are alternatives out there and we need to be willing to explore them."