What's the future of passenger rail? Negotiations continue with CN to keep tour train rolling.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: TRANSPORTATION

Like a winter without end, the future viability of passenger rail in one part of northeastern Ontario is in the deep freeze.

One citizen's group in the Algoma district has made it a mission to preserve passenger service on the Canadian National Railway link between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst.

Chapleau area eco-lodge owner Al Errington realizes it will always be an uphill battle to keep the coaches running on the line when rail carriers are more interested in moving freight.

For more than two years, the citizens group he co-chairs--the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT)--has been doing its part to convince governments and CN to stay on the passenger rail bandwagon.

Errington operates a remote island eco-tourism lodge on the outskirts of the Chapleau Game Preserve in northeastern Ontario.

As much as 90 per cent of his business comes from clients who arrive by rail on the regular passenger run.

The 470-kilometre track from Sault Ste. Marie running north to Hearst features both the popular Agawa Canyon Tour Train and a regular passenger service for residents, cottagers and vacationers to reach remote areas in the Algoma district.

Errington said service reductions by CN have resulted his lodge being empty of guests some night on the summer because of the schedule.

The hot tourism topic in the Sault revolves around ongoing negotiations between the province, the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Canadian National regarding refurbishing and modernizing the aging tour coaches, and sourcing a rail car repair shop to do the job.

All the players involved are saying very little as months slowly creep toward the summer tourism season.

In an e-mailed response, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie director Ian McMillan declined comment on the status of the coach project and his dealings with CN. "We are still in the negotiation stage and while going smoothly it still is a large deal and it takes time."

Sault MPP David Orazietti, whose made a 2007 announcement of a $10 million investment split between CN and the province to rebuild the tour train coaches, also declined comment. "I am working to ensure we are able to move the initiative forward," said Orazietti by e-mail, "I would prefer to discuss this ... once we have all agreements necessary finalized."

Terry O'Brien, CN's director of passenger rail, was on vacation and unavailable for comment. Other attempts to contact CN officials by phone or e-mail went unanswered.

Errington, whose island lodge is 2.5...