Here's what it will be like on Toronto's new direct train to Muskoka

After more than a decade without passenger rail service, the long-anticipated Northlander is officially returning to Ontario's rail network next year. 

Operated by the provincially owned Ontario Northland Railway, the service was discontinued in 2012 and replaced with express buses. Now, it's set to relaunch sometime next year with expanded service and new trains, and here's a peek into what the experience will look like. 

The reinstated Northlander will run a bi-directional route between Toronto's Union Station and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane.

The route is set to include 16 stops in total, including Toronto (Union Station), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins, and Cochrane.  

The Northlander will operate using new Siemens Venture trainsets, which are currently in production and each includes one locomotive and three passenger cars. The fully-accessible trains include features like built-in wheelchair lifts, wide aisles, braille signage for key features, audio and visual onboard announcements, and accessible washrooms. 

A new YouTube video highlights all of the other passenger features you can expect to find on the train, including power outlets and USB charging at every seat, adjustable tray tables, Wi-Fi, galley-style food service, overhead luggage storage, dedicated spaces for bicycles, and a variety of seating options, including single-row seats and pods for groups. 

Since the service was cancelled, municipalities and Indigenous communities in northern Ontario have continuously called for its return, and the service is expected to transport between 40,000 to 60,000 riders annually by 2041. 

The Northlander is expected to begin service in 2026.