TAKE OUR SURVEY ABOUT PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE
NEORN, in cooperation with the Committee Promoting Muskoka Rail Travel (CPMRT), encourages residents and visitors to join their efforts by completing an online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NEORNsurvey
“One year ago, newly elected PC leader Doug Ford promised to return passenger rail service on the Toronto to Cochrane line which had been cancelled in 2012. This promise has been reiterated several times in the past 12 months,” explains Lucille Frith, NEORN and CPMRT Co-chair. “The April 2019 Budget had no dollar line item for the passenger rail service but Finance Minister Fedeli stated in the legislature the government is focusing on identifying opportunities for a modern, sustainable transportation system in Northern Ontario.”
NEORN and CPMRT feel that many of the moving parts are in place to make passenger rail a reality, including:
- a government who keeps stating they will do it
- a government who suggested an amount of $45 million they say would be spent ($30M Capital and $15M Operating)
- a government who have publicly stated that for the previous nine months they had been working with Corina Moore, President and CEO of Ontario Northland and partners (Metrolinx) at Ministry of Transportation to develop a plan. This plan is due out in November 2019.
“The Ford Government has stated they are listening to the people and support passenger rail in the north. We want to provide data that will support the return of passenger rail between Toronto and Cochrane as promised, “said Frith. “Now have your say by responding to our survey!”
The survey is open until June 30, 2019 Take it now and pass this along to your associates please.
NEORN Co-chairs:
Lucille Frith (co-chair of CPMRT – Committee Promoting Muskoka Rail Travel) 705-783-1924
Howie Wilcox (member of CAPT – Coalition Algoma Passenger Trains)
For more information about NEORN, visit www.NEORN.ca & about CPMRT, visit www.gorailnorth.ca