Rail consultant wants Northerners back on the tracks.

A movement hoping to see passenger train service between Greater Sudbury and Winnipeg for the first time in over 15 years is gaining momentum.

About 15 years ago, Via Rail cut its route through Thunder Bay and many stops along the way, opting instead for a route farther north.

In November, Sylvain Gervais and his Thunder-Win Consultant Services were contracted by the Superior North Community Future Development Corporation (SNCFDC) to conduct a feasibility study examining the potential for passenger service along the corridor.

"I spent the last 3-4 years in Thunder Bay," he says. "One thing that for sure has been identified in many meetings and conferences I have attended is that in Northern Ontario transportation is a big issue we need to solve. I believe the train could be part of the solution."

Gervais worked for Via Rail for six years. He oversaw the refurbishment of 139 Renaissance rail cars at Bombardier's plant in Thunder Bay.

"I've done preliminary reports on that corridor," he says. "There is potential, but it's all going to depend on the type of equipment we decide to propose and what type of service we're going to be looking at."

The study will look at service models, ideal scheduling, what type of cars would best fit the bill and who could run the show. The service provider could be anything from a private investor to a major carrier, such as Via Rail or Canadian Pacific, to a non-profit organization, according to Gervais.

"You have working examples of that in Canada right now, such as the Prairie Dog train," he says, calling the non-profit rail outfit very successful.

On the equipment side, there is a lot available, according to Gervais. He already has a couple of leads.

"You can always target your people with different types of cars," he explains. At Via, business cars featured computer and phone hook-ups, while tourist cars featured a bar.

The hitch to all this is funding. Since the SNCFDC hasn't found the $67,000 or so the study will cost, Gervais hasn't officially left the station. In the meantime, he has been spending a lot of volunteer hours pounding the pavement, building support for the idea and urging anyone who will listen to take his online service survey at www.superiortrain.com.

"I haven't had a chance to go everywhere, but in Winnipeg I had 300 signatures right away," he says of a recent visit. Many Winnipeggers signing indicated they have family in Thunder Bay, Dryden, Kenora and other Northern centres, he says.

So far, the online survey has yielded just over 300 responses. About 37 per cent indicate they would use the train to visit family and friends, 36 per cent for tourism purposes, 14 per cent say to access services (such as health care) available in another town and about 13 per cent say they'd take a business trip on the rails.

The survey is crucial because it will shape what sort of services Gervais will include in the final business model proposal.

"It will guide us to what sort of services people want to have," he says.

He hopes the survey will identify the top three or four services Northerners would most likely take advantage of.

More go, less show

Gervais is gaining political support for the project in many of the communities the train could or would impact.

In March, Sault Ste. Marie residents Art Osborne and Mike O'Shea began circulating a discussion paper to politicians, as well as community and economic development officials along the North Shore on their passenger rail initiative. They claim a premium service would enhance the quality of life in the North and link the communities in between.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff is on board as well.

"The impact for the economic and tourist industry for the concerned communities could be phenomenal," he writes in an open letter. "The train is a great way to travel and is much needed in our Northern communities."

Recently, Thunder Bay city council unanimously endorsed the project and instructed their economic development office to work in conjunction with the SNCFDC, according to Gervais.

One of the economic development officers in Sudbury has offered assistance. The Chapleau CFDC contacted Gervais to offer help, as well.

Mayors and reeves in townships such as Scriber and Marathon have indicated support for the project, too.

But talk is cheap.

Political support is key, he says, but support from CFDCs means possible dollars, which go farther toward fulfilling his mandate.

"If you're asking 12 communities to put together $25,000 and you go to the federal government after and ask them for the rest, it will be easier to accumulate the $65,000 required."

The study, which would take about six months to complete, will ultimately give birth to a business plan the SNCFDC can pitch to potential investors and operators.

www.superiortrain.com

By CRAIG GILBERT

Northern Ontario Business