Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
7.3.3 Continue to Advocate for Rail Service
Rail infrastructure is an important asset in Cochrane and Northeastern Ontario. Cochrane should
continue to work in partnership with regional organizations and communities to maintain the
ONR rail service to the region and to retain the support that rail service contributes to economic
development.
The long-term goals are to:
• Increase the amount of freight that the ONR carries southbound so that the rail service
remains viable and continues to create local employm ent opportunities.
• Restore passenger rail service from Cochrane to destinations south and west.
• Establish the role that rail and intermodal service might have in supporting an enhanced
tourism industry in Cochrane.
Cochrane should:
• Work with FONOM and NeCN to lobby the provincial government to increase the
business development activities of the ONR or to divest the ONR to a private operator.
• Encourage ONR or a private operator to develop a long-term strategy to increase the
agricultural, forestry and mining sectors’ use of the rail service.
• Identify current industrial users within the haulage zone serviced by ONR.
• Create an awareness and sales campaign targeting current industrial users.
• Develop an evidence-based business proposition for the Ontario government that
demonstrates how increasing rail and intermodal transportation options would increase
tourism visitation in the region.
Potential community leaders
This initiative will require that significant political pressure be applied. The primary leaders should
be the Town of Cochrane Mayor, the MPP for the region, and the MP for the region. Further
support should come from NEOMA, FONOM, NeCN and other regional groups. The Economic
Development Officer will support group with logistics, communications, and project planning.
Potential funding sources:
Cochrane already participates as part of FONOM, NEOMA and NeCN. No additional funding is
anticipated for this project, unless the Municipality wishes to contract out the development of the
tourism/transportation business proposition.
7.4 Key Direction 4: Promote Cochrane as a Great Place to Live
The Town will develop projects, partnerships, and marketing
materials to facilitate and support population stability and a better
quality of life.
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