Feds zero Algoma Central Railway $, service ends 2014-03-31

[dowlingm]

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/de ... sp?c=67653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://captrains.ca/federal-governmentt ... ce-mar-31/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tories presuming Sault (Tory seat) won't care and Hearst has an NDP MP already so too bad for them?

[Ken V]

This doesn't bode well. With the present Conservative Government previously reducing funding to VIA Rail resulting in frequency reductions on the transcontinental routes and in southwestern Ontario and now support for remote services being cut, what's next? Now other remote services such as the trains to Senneterre, Jonquiere, White River, and Prince George/Prince Rupert are also in jeopardy. It could be not that far off that the only passenger trains in Canada outside the Quebec-Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor will be operated either by Amtrak, by Rocky Mountaineer, or by native tribes in Quebec & Labrador and The Pas - Pukatawagan - Churchill in northern Manitoba.

[dowlingm]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/s ... -1.2514467" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The federal government emailed CBC News with the following response to questions about the cuts:

"The decision by the Government of Canada to discontinue federal funding for this service was based on the fact that the Algoma Central Railway passenger service did not meet the objectives the Remote Passenger Rail Program. Sault Ste. Marie, Hearst and Hawk Junction have year-round access to the national transportation system through other means, such as highways.

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone: This news is not good...Can the Ontario government step in and save the Algoma Central passenger service?

I do feel that both Ontario and Quebec should step in and help fund and in the process save all currently operating passenger rail services inside and outside
VIA's "Corridor" if the Canadian Federal Government goes through with these cutbacks...

This to me is as bad in cases as what occurred back in 1990...MACTRAXX

[dowlingm]

Can't see Ontario stepping up when the same government just killed the Toronto-Cochrane "Northlander".

[Tadman]

Is this for the canyon train, the other train, or both?

[Ken V]

Is this for the canyon train, the other train, or both?

It's the regular service between Hearst and Sault Ste Marie 2-3 times per week that's being terminated. At this point the summertime day trip to Agawa Canyon and return is still in place. The winter "Snow Train" service was cancelled earlier.

[R36 Combine Coach]

Service has been extended to April 29 for now.

[dowlingm]

Service has been extended to April 29 for now.

Any word whether it is ACR, the Feds or someone else came up with the $ required?

[labaienordique]

Transport Canada to make ACR announcement Monday
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/de ... sp?c=71540" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[R36 Combine Coach]

Subsidy for Algoma Central passenger service has been extended through March 31, 2015, announced by Lisa Raitt, Transport Minister.

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, announced today that the Government of Canada will extend its $2.2-million federal subsidy to CN for the operation of the Algoma Central Railway (ACR) passenger rail service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ontario until March 31, 2015.

The one-year extension of federal support for the operation of the ACR passenger rail service will give affected stakeholders as well as local municipal leaders more time to make arrangements for the development of a sustainable long-term solution for the ACR passenger rail service.

[labaienordique]

Un S.O.S. pour préserver le service ferroviaire Algoma Central
http://lavoixdunord.ca/index.php/compon ... ma-central" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[labaienordique]

Transport Minister Will Contact ACR Stakeholders
http://www.country1043.com/2015/01/28/t ... keholders/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[labaienordique]

Things just got formal and Joe is encouraged
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/de ... sp?c=86261" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[labaienordique]

Answers needed on future of ACR passenger services
http://www.wawa-news.com/index.php?opti ... Itemid=157" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;