Trains NewsWire reported today in the Ontario Northland story about a proposed rail line to this new mining district. Canada Chrome wants to build a RR from Nakina on the CN to the mining district about 200 miles north. Cliffs has a competing proposal for a road and already has agreements with Ontario, which says the road would only be used by the mining companies. I wonder if one, or both will be built.
Not sure which one will be built. I have heard that the region was given the ‘Ring of Fire’ label by the Chairman of Cliffs who is a big fan of Johnny Cash. Anyone else here that?
Another news article explains the tie-in between the Ontario Northland and the proposed line north from Nakina on the CN. ON would also re-install rail on the abandoned CN grade from Nakina to their railhead at Hearst. This seems like a waste, since CN has a direct line to Sudbury, where they propose to process the ore. ON would have to make the long run to North Bay, and then back-track to Sudbury.
http://www.nugget.ca/2012/10/28/no-cash-for-new-line--province
I am not sure what will happen with Ontario Northland after the political nonsense at Queen’s Park so it is hard to say. I would suspect at some point since there is a huge pile of profit to be made, Ontario Northland (likely under new government) will work to take a chunk of it.
I also imagine CP other than CN will want to tap into that profit. I imagine Hunter Harrison will want a piece of the action to boost revenues and improve operational revenue at CP.
I wonder if CP would think about re-installing rail on the recently abandoned CN Nipigon-Longlac line to get close to the action?