Quote:
Originally Posted by sonysnob
How many passengers per day were using the Northlander train before it’s demise in 2012? It doesn’t seem by accident that the above article didn’t mention anything about ridership and the likely dozens of people who had to find alternative transportation throughout the northeast.
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"However, a Freedom of Information request by All Aboard Northern Ontario subsequently discovered a government consultant deemed the train's average annual ridership numbers of approximately 35,000 were acceptable for the market size."
Ontario Northlander Numbers
"The per-passenger subsidy also appears to have been lower than the $400 figure they claimed. If you believe the numbers Lysyk used and divide the $11 million that Ontario put in by the average annual ridership of 36,237, you get $303."
Does the North need the Northlander?
So, less than 100 per day (~36,000/365 days).
Ontario Northland has pretty markedly increased bus service too since 2012, adding many routes:
Old map:
Today:
If they cull expanded bus service to pay for the Northlander, that's silly IMO. Especially since the rail service competes with the existing bus service for passengers. I can't see that being popular with the Sault and those who want to go to Ottawa.