Ontario unveils $1B transit overhaul with Northlander train revival and new TTC fleets
Ontario has unveiled a series of major infrastructure and transport projects for Toronto and surrounding regions. The plans include reviving a long-discontinued passenger train, expanding transit capacity, and boosting housing and energy supplies.
The investments, totalling billions, aim to address key challenges in transit, education, and housing over the coming years. One of the most notable announcements is the return of the Northlander passenger train in 2026. The service, which was discontinued in 2012, will operate between Northern Ontario and Toronto with an expanded route. The new trains will be fully accessible, though details on the last operational date before the revival remain unclear.
The province is also allocating nearly $1 billion for 55 new TTC trains on Line 2. These will be built in Thunder Bay, supporting local manufacturing. Another $850 million will go toward refurbishing GO Transit rail cars, though this may lead to slower travel times and delays in modernisation.
For transit hubs, funding has been secured to complete the East Harbour Transit Hub, expected to serve around 100,000 daily riders. Meanwhile, the government is moving forward with plans for Toronto to host the headquarters of a new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, which could create 3,500 jobs.
On the housing front, up to $300 million will convert about 2,200 newly built condo units into long-term rentals, including 550 affordable units. An additional 33 modular homes will be built on Coxwell Avenue. Another $83 million will fund affordable student housing at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Energy infrastructure is also a priority, with a new underwater high-voltage transmission line planned from near the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station to downtown Toronto. This line will deliver up to 900 megawatts of power. In education, a new English Catholic elementary school will be built in Toronto, serving 600 students.
Finally, the government plans to increase detention capacity and add resources at the Toronto South Detention Centre, which closed in 2022. These projects mark a significant push to improve transport, housing, and energy across Ontario. The Northlander's return, new transit trains, and expanded rental housing are set to roll out over the next few years.
The investments also target long-term needs, from student accommodation to nuclear power transmission, as the province prepares for future demand.
