Timmins council approves six-month transit pilot to link Northlander rail station with taxis and extended Route 16 service
Timmins city council has approved a six-month pilot program to connect Ontario Northland’s Northlander passenger rail service with local transit, including a shared-ride taxi arrangement capped at $6,000 per month and an extension of Timmins Transit Route 16.
The pilot is meant to help people travel between the Timmins-Porcupine Rail Station and destinations within the current Timmins Transit service area, particularly at times when the proposed train schedule does not line up with existing bus hours.
In March, council directed staff to examine options for linking the rail station to the Timmins Transit network. The review found two scheduling issues with the proposed Northlander timetable: the morning train is scheduled to arrive before bus service begins, and the evening train departure is scheduled during the city’s reduced evening transit service.
Under the pilot, council approved a service agreement with Timmins Taxi to provide shared-ride trips, with city spending on the taxi portion capped at $6,000 per month for six months. Riders will pay the standard bus fare, and the city will cover the additional cost for morning arrivals and for connections when bus service is not available.
Timmins Transit will also extend Route 16 conventional bus service by 90 minutes, Monday through Saturday, to cover evening rail departures. The city said the extended route will provide a direct connection between the rail station and the main Timmins Transit Terminal.
During the pilot, Timmins Transit will track ridership, travel patterns, operating costs and customer feedback. The city said the results will be used to help decide whether a permanent connection between the rail station and the transit network should be provided through fixed-route bus service.
“We want to ensure that people have a reliable way to catch the train,” Mayor Michelle Boileau said.
The city said more information, including service details, will be released before the Northlander begins passenger service.