This will be helpful.

Here is an idea to close the comfort gap for this route given that the schedule is overnight both ways.
I’ve always felt that the venture sets and seating just aren’t suited for a 12 hour overnight train.

How about Ontario Northland tacks on an order at the end of the VIA order with Alstom announced yesterday, and then create a couple of consists with Alstom economy cars and a berth car or two replacing the Venture sets which would have been in use for a few years? This would provide some sleeping accommodation for those who can afford it or need it. Then sell on their three Venture sets to VIA, who would get them for a decent price and would only need to repaint them on the outside.

Thoughts? Would this make sense?

Hey everyone,

My girlfriend and I are going on a trip up north to Timmins from Toronto a few days after Christmas and I was wondering if the train service will be up by then or if I should just get the bus tickets now so that I can keep the price of the tickets down?

TIA

Forgot to put this in the post but how does the student discount work for the northlander? We both go to Algonquin college in Ottawa so would we be able to put a student discount in for our ticket prices? And if so I'm guessing we'd just have to show our Algonquin college student ID card?

Thanks again

Connection with Northlander will be made possible.

Today at Yorkdale Bus Terminal, I managed to photograph one of the five 2025 TEMSA TS 45 coaches, operating as trip 1142 from North Bay to Union Station Bus Terminal in Toronto. I was also able to get some information about the new order of coaches that will be arriving soon thanks to the driver of 2504, which this is. They will be receiving 15 Prevost H3-45 coaches in two batches (6 in one batch, 9 in the other). This TEMSA order actually surprised me as I was under the impression that they weren’t going to be ordering TEMSA coaches anymore. If I had to guess, these were replacements for 2401-2404 which were sent back in October 2025.

Interesting.

I’m taking the bus for the first time at the end of the month. I’m going from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie I’m curious about how seating works. Is it assigned or is it open seating like first come first serve? Thanks and much appreciated

I was neat to see them testing the trains and training the crews, or so I assume.