The ''Polar Bear Express'' is a Canadian passenger train operated by the
Ontario Northland Railway
The Ontario Northland Railway is a Canadian railway operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, a provincial Crown agency of the government of Ontario.
Originally built to develop the Lake Timiskaming and Lake Nipissing area ...
in
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Provi ...
. Service was introduced in 1964. While designated as a passenger train, the Polar Bear Express also carries freight and is equipped with specialized equipment including
boxcar
A boxcar is the North American ( AAR) term for a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is considered one of the most versatile since it can carry most ...
s for canoes, snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles,
chaincars (flat cars with tie downs) for carrying cars and light trucks (there are no roads to
Moosonee
Moosonee () is a town in northern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately south of James Bay. It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port. Nearby on Moose Factory Island is the community of ...
so vehicles come in and out by train) and
baggage
Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveler's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveler can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip ...
and express cars. In the past a special car for canoes was included but these are now carried in
boxcar
A boxcar is the North American ( AAR) term for a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is considered one of the most versatile since it can carry most ...
s.
It operates five days per week year-round and connects
Cochrane Cochrane may refer to:
Places Australia
*Cochrane railway station, Sydney, a railway station on the closed Ropes Creek railway line
Canada
* Cochrane, Alberta
* Cochrane Lake, Alberta
* Cochrane District, Ontario
** Cochrane, Ontario, a town wit ...
with
Moosonee
Moosonee () is a town in northern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately south of James Bay. It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port. Nearby on Moose Factory Island is the community of ...
. During the summer months there is an additional train on Sundays and the train often includes a full-length
dome car
A dome car is a type of railway passenger car that has a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. It also can include features of a coach, lounge car, dining car, sleeping car or obse ...
. Prior to 2012, the train carried a full dining car during the summer.
Scheduled Stops
Tickets for the passenger service are sold by phone or at offices in Cochrane,
Moosonee,
Moose Factory
Moose Factory is a community in the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Moose Factory Island, near the mouth of the Moose River, which is at the southern end of James Bay. It was the first English-speaking settlement in lands no ...
and
Timmins
Timmins ( ) is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River. The city is the fourth-largest city in the Northeastern Ontario region with a population of 41,145 (2021). The city's economy is based on natural resource ext ...
. The train will stop on demand in some locations as part of the flag stop service.
The town of
Cochrane Cochrane may refer to:
Places Australia
*Cochrane railway station, Sydney, a railway station on the closed Ropes Creek railway line
Canada
* Cochrane, Alberta
* Cochrane Lake, Alberta
* Cochrane District, Ontario
** Cochrane, Ontario, a town wit ...
recommends taking the train to
Moosonee
Moosonee () is a town in northern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately south of James Bay. It is considered to be "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port. Nearby on Moose Factory Island is the community of ...
for a "great rail excursion" in summer, to view the "hydroelectric dams, isolated homes and perhaps even some wildlife."
![Ontario Northland Station, Moosonee](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Ontario_Northland_Station%2C_Moosonee.jpg)
The ''Polar Bear Express'' service was expanded on June 5, 2007, after increased funding from the Government of Ontario to ONR was announced in March 2007. It resulted in the discontinuation of the ''Little Bear'' mixed freight-passenger service which had operated three days per week, year-round, resulting in dedicated separate freight and passenger rail service to Moosonee.
Operations
![Polarbearexpressheadend_3076](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Polarbearexpressheadend_3076.jpg)
In summer 2008, track conditions resulted the train running very late much of the time (2.5 hours by railway announcement). By late 2008, running times had improved somewhat and timings of five and a half to six hours for the 186 mile (300 kilometre - all distances are shown in miles along the tracks) trip were becoming typical. Service deteriorated significantly in 2009 mainly due to bad track conditions and mechanical failures — on one occasion the train, scheduled to arrive in Cochrane at 9:42 in the evening did not arrive until 4:00 in the morning.
Before the 2007 service expansion, the ''Polar Bear Express'' operated six days per week during the summer months. It leaves Cochrane in the morning, stays in Moosonee for a few hours, and returns to Cochrane in the evening. It was primarily used by
tourists
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...
, although it was used by an increasing number of local residents.
The name of the train is misleading — polar bears are rarely seen anywhere near Moosonee, although there are some extremely rare exceptions.
The Polar Bear Express today mostly services the residents of Moosonee and
Moose Factory
Moose Factory is a community in the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Moose Factory Island, near the mouth of the Moose River, which is at the southern end of James Bay. It was the first English-speaking settlement in lands no ...
when they travel south from their communities that lack road connections to the rest of Ontario. During the winter, many passengers are from communities further north who travel to Moosonee by
winter road
A winter road is a seasonal road only usable during the winter, i.e. it has to be re-built every year. This road typically runs over land and over frozen lakes, rivers, swamps, and sea ice.Proskin et al, 2011. Guidelines for the Construction an ...
before taking the train, due to the high cost of vehicle transport.
Prior to 2012 the summer train included special programs for children and an entertainment car.
Gallery
Image:Polar bear express train.jpg, Polar Bear Express train
Image:Polar Bear Express.jpg, Moosonee rail station with Polar Bear Express train
Image:Kanada Zug.jpg, Dining (snack) car no longer in use
Image:S IMG 3730.jpg, Full length dome car Otter Rapids
Image:PbxdinerS OO0P7214.jpg, Dining car on Polar Bear Express - no longer carried
Image:PlayareaS OO0P7169.jpg, Children's play area - no longer carried
See also
* ''
Northlander
The ''Northlander'' was a passenger train operated by the Ontario Northland Railway in Ontario, Canada.
The ''Northlander'' operated six days per week year-round in both directions and connected Cochrane with Toronto. The train typically con ...
''
References
External links
Official Website
{{ONT named trains
Ontario Northland Railway
Named passenger trains of Ontario
Transport in Cochrane, Ontario
Railway services introduced in 1964