Statements made by Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli last week about whether passenger rail is returning to the north are being met with guarded optimism by an advocacy group.

Lucille Frith is co-chair of the Northeastern Ontario Rail Network.

Fedeli said they pledged to bring back passenger rail in this mandate during the election campaign and that remains their intention.

Frith says they will be holding the governments feet to the fire on the pledge being met.

“The PC’s insisted that there would be $45 million-30 million in capital and 15 million in operating- and hopefully they’ll keep their word on that. Ontario Northland is well poised to carry out the program,” she says.

Frith says the NDP has pledged to bring back the Northlander.

She says returning the train service is a must to connect communities in the north.

“To have a working opportunity to live, go to school and use the community services you need to be connected. And a 13 and a half hour bus ride form Cochrane to Toronto is not the most comfortable,” Frith says.

Filed under: Lucille Frith, MPP Vic Fedeli, Northeastern Ontario Rail Network, ONTC