Ontario Northland
“Polar Bear Express”
Cochrane → Moosonee
- 300 km along the track
- 5 stops
- 3 commentary points
North from Cochrane across the Canadian Shield and the muskeg of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, down the Abitibi and Moose rivers to Moosonee, the end of the line near James Bay, which no year-round road reaches.
Stop Overnight stop Commentary point
Legs
| From | To | Distance | On the train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochrane | Moosonee | 299 km | about 5 h |
Approximate scheduled times. Check the timetable with the operator before you travel.
Things to know
- A lifeline, not just a tour - no year-round road reaches Moosonee, so the train carries residents, freight, groceries and even cars and boats on flatcars. It stops for people waiting beside the track anywhere along the line.
- Day trip or longer - in summer the train goes north in the morning and returns the same evening, leaving a few hours in Moosonee. Staying a night or more gives time to visit Moose Factory across the river.
- Schedule - the train runs several days a week, on a summer and a winter timetable; check Ontario Northland's current one before you plan.
- Getting to Cochrane - Cochrane is about eight hours' drive north of Toronto; Ontario Northland coaches serve it, and the operator plans to bring back the Northlander train from Toronto.
- No signal - there is no mobile coverage for most of the line between Cochrane and Moosonee.
- Bugs - in early summer the blackflies and mosquitoes in Moosonee are fierce. Bring repellent.
Ride it with Rail Passages
All 3 commentary points on this route, triggered by GPS and readable offline.
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GPS may not be available everywhere. Tunnels, deep canyons and some rail cars can block the signal. The app estimates where the train is for a few minutes from its last speed, but cards may come late until the signal returns.