From Northern Ontario Business November 3, 1997
| By MICHAEL WHITEHOUSE Northern Ontario
Business MATTAWA -- Northern Ontario will soon see the establishment of a new tourist attraction that is expected to rival the success of Sault Ste. Marie's Agawa Canyon train. The attraction, an excursion train dubbed the Timber Train, will operate between Mattawa and Temiscaming, Que. It will be operated by the Mattawa and Area Forestry Committee for Economic Development -- the same group working on the Canadian Ecology Centre in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park near Mattawa. It is hoped the excursion -- designed to be a day trip accessible within a day's drive of much of Ontario -- will operate year round and provide a major boost to the economies of both Mattawa and Temiscaming. The Timber Train made a trial run on October 5. More than 230 people were invited on the run, including regional forestry and tourism industry officials, area MP's and local politicians from both provinces. And by all accounts, the trial run was a success. Mike Brophy, chair of the Mattawa and Area Forestry Committee for Economic Development, predicts an promising future for the Timber Train. |
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Timber Train makes a trial run between Mattawa
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"We're not sure exactly what the future will look like, because we're still planning and exploring," he says. "But hopefully this will be a train that will be here for the long term."
The Timber Train will use the existing Ottawa Valley RaiLink line, and RaiLink will also provide the locomotives. The passenger cars will be borrowed from the Polar Bear Express, operated by Ontario Northland Transportation Corporation between Cochrane and Moose Factory.
Passenger service along the 62-kilometre track between Mattawa and Temiscaming was discontinued 25 years ago, but freight from the Tembec mill in Temiscaming still travels the short line daily. The line was sold by CP Rail to RaiLink two years ago.
Brophy credits Tembec, one of Canada's largest pulp and paper producers whose headquarters are in Temiscaming, for taking the lead private sector role in sponsoring the Timber Train.
When running, the train will depart Mattawa at about 9 am and arrive in Temiscaming in time for a tour of the Tembec mill and town, followed by lunch and shopping. Passengers will arrive back in Mattawa by 4 pm.
It is hoped the train can run three or four days a week all year long, although it will probably begin with weekend and theme-based excursions. As many as 50,000 people could board the Timber train annually.
"Obviously in the fall, when the leaves are turning color, should be as good as it gets for taking this train," predicts Charles Gagnon, vice-president of corporate relations for Tembec. "Or in winter after a snowfall. There is lots of potential to capitalize on what the rail line has going for it."
He says efficiencies can be had by piggy-backing the Timber Train with daily freight runs.
Brophy says the goal of the Timber Train is to offer a cultural bridge between Ontario and Quebec and to complement the existing and planned attractions of Mattawa and Temiscaming. It will also provide unparalleled scenery along the Ottawa River.
The idea for an excursion train has been kicking around for more than 10 years, Brophy says.
"It's taken this long to get the idea onto the track," he says. "It takes a lot of partners pulling together to do something like this, and we've got that now."
Other official sponsors for the project include FedNor, RaiLink, and Ontario Northland.
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Most recent revision Monday, November 3, 1997 Added to RaiLink-Ottawa Valley Site October 30, 1998
