PORCUPNE — As the province chugs along on bringing passenger rail service back to the North, work has started on building a train station in Timmins.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria was in town to give an update on the project, which is still on track to be running in 2026.
Work at the site of the Timmins-Porcupine Station started months ago, with the project drawing attention when fencing went up along the Falcon Street location that borders on King Street (Highway 101).
"Once complete, this Timmins-Porcupine Station will serve as the northern terminal for the Northlander, which will connect Toronto to Timmins, while supporting northern industries and the resource sector, driving tourism in the North and certainly fuelling economic transparency here for years to come,” said Sarkaria.
EllisDon is building the Timmins-Porcupine Station, which is part of the project to bring back the Ontario Northlander passenger rail service. Late last year, the company picked up the provincial government contract to build all of the passenger stops at locations north of North Bay.
Other contracts were awarded last spring. Enseicom Inc. got the contract to design and manufacture nine new station shelters; Remcan Ltd. will make track improvements to enhance rail safety, decrease maintenance and reduce derailment risks; and X-Rail will complete warning system upgrades along the Northlander corridor north of North Bay.
SEE: Northlander train design revealed, new construction contract awarded
The early construction work in Porcupine is for the platform, parking area and passenger waiting area. The finished location will have accessible washrooms, a seating area and a ticket counter. Outside, there will be an accessible platform, bus bays, parking, a taxi stand, and areas to pick up and drop off riders.
The passenger rail service will have 16 stops going from Union Station in Toronto to Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane. The others stops are Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), and Matheson.
It's not clear how much riding the rails will cost yet.
“We’ll have more details to come on that, but I can assure everyone that we will work very, very closely with the communities to take into consideration the challenges,” said Sarkaria.
While work is happening on stops along the train route, there is also less visible work being done on the track.
“Across the corridor, crews are hard at work on upgrades to the track infrastructure, stops and platforms. Curb realignment work will allow the Northlander to safely run faster and more efficiently,” said Chad Evans, Ontario Northland chief executive officer.
When the train service starts is mostly dependent on when the train sets arrive, said Evans.
That delivery is expected in early 2026, and there is a months-long testing process after. When the testing is done, the start date will be announced.
He said the Porcupine station is being strategically done in phases so that the service can start even if the interior of the building is still being constructed.
The accessible platforms, parking lot, walkways, lighting and signage are part of the first phase.
“That might also include temporary waiting area and washrooms in that paved region, perhaps in a trailer style service while the inside of the building is being completed,” he said.
