'Time for Feds to re-fund the passenger train', says coalition

NEWS RELEASE
COALITION FOR ALGOMA PASSENGER TRAINS
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It’s been three long years now since there was passenger train service on the Algoma Central Railway (CN) between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst. CN has hinted on several occasions that it is a freight operation and is not interested in passenger trains.

In the interim though, the Missanabie Cree First Nation has applied for and obtained all the necessary requirements to re-introduce service but lack the funding assistance from the Federal Government to institute this service. What a shame!

Businesses in the region have suffered losses and include hotels, motels, restaurants, lodges and the retail sector. Communities and First Nations approximate to the line have also been affected.

BDO Canada’s ‘Economic Impact Analysis’ of April 2014 reported the total, annual, economic impact associated with the Algoma Central passenger rail service to be in the realm of $38 to 48 million. This service is so important to the region.

The Government has not budged on their premise that the ACR service does not meet Transport Canada’s criteria of a ‘remote’ service. That is pure hogwash! According to the same BDO study, of the more than 600 owned properties along the line, those with rail only access total 448. BDO reported that the value of these properties averaged $60,000 each for an overall value exceeding $28 million. That’s not chump change!

The majority of these owners cannot get to their properties without undue risk and many do not even have passable industrial roads (eg. Oba Lake). Most of these roads are not maintained and have illegal water crossings (temporary structures) that are subject to frequent washouts. How can these situations not be considered remote?

Many of the owners are seniors and/or retirees who worked all their lives to build these cabins and cottages knowing full well at the time they would have train access to these properties. But now many don’t and Transport Canada hasn’t moved from their position even though they subsidize a similar service from Sudbury to White River through VIA Rail. How is this fair?

Several lodges along the rail line have witnessed as much as a 40 per cent drop recently in clientele because there is no rail access and float plane access is not a preferred option. One lodge had such a poor year in 2018 that it is considering closing for good.

It’s time our Government developed a new transportation policy that supports and promotes rail, passenger services across this land. Transport Canada’s only focus today is on rail safety which is important but not the only issue. Passenger trains are an essential service and need to be encouraged.

If our country can give over $9 billion to some third-world countries then surely they can find a few million to support a restored ACR passenger train (Bear Train) that is sorely needed.

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