Toronto's new direct train to Muskoka just passed a massive milestone

Toronto's long-awaited direct train to Muskoka is officially one step closer to reality, thanks to the arrival of the first out of three Northlander trainsets. 

Calls for the service's return have only grown since it was discontinued back in 2012 and replaced with express buses. Expected to go into service later this year, the Northlander is set to run a 16-stop, bi-directional route between Union Station in Toronto and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane.

"Today is a great day for the people of Northern Ontario as we move another step closer to bringing the Northlander back into service, so families and workers can travel conveniently from Union Station all the way to Timmins and Cochrane," said Premier Doug Ford.

"Our government will continue to invest in the largest public transit expansion in Canadian history as part of our plan to create jobs, tackle gridlock and protect workers and businesses." 

Before moving up north, where it'll undergo testing along the Northlander corridor, the train set will undergo commissioning work in Toronto to ensure that it meets all performance, safety, and operating requirements. 

Last year, some of the upgraded features onboard the Northlander were revealed, which include wide aisles, Wi-Fi, galley-style food service, adjustable tray tables, overhead reading lights, and USB charging. 

The provincial government purchased the three new Northlander trainsets from Siemens, each of which includes 169 seats, one locomotive, and three passenger cars. 

Construction company EllisDon was awarded a contract last summer to reconstruct platforms and install shelters at stops along the Northlander route. 

Just a few months ago, the province also announced that work had wrapped up on the North Bay Rail Bypass, which is set to cut travel times by 15 minutes to North Bay Station.  

The Nortlander is expected to transport between 40,000 and 60,000 riders every year by 2041.