Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
tourists on the Polar Bear Express. 133See the complete record of monthly ridership between 2008
and 2014 in Appendix H.
Figure 7.1 illustrates the trends in combined ridership from 2008 to 2014.134 To estimate the
number of visitors riding the train during the summer season – on the Polar Bear Express (PBX) –
we took the annual monthly average of Little Bear ridership (September to June) and subtracted it
from the total average ridership in the summer months.
Figure 7.1: Trend in Ridership Statistics for the Cochrane-Moosonee Train, 2008-2014
12000
11000
10000
Passengers
9000
8000
Avg Monthly Ridership Little Bear Sept-June
7000
6000
Avg Monthy Ridership, Total, July
August
5000
Estimated Avg Monthly Ridership,
PBX only
4000
3000
2000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Year
The top line in the chart reflects the average monthly ridership on the Little Bear train between
2008-2014; these passengers are mainly residents travelling between Cochrane, Moosonee and
points north on the James Bay Coast. The second line illustrates the estimated average ridership of
tourists, excluding local passengers. While the chart in Figure 7.1 reflects a downward trend on all
ridership groups from 2008 (and from 2002, as noted previously) ridership figures have stabilized
somewhat over the past five years. There may be opportunities to develop or support tourism
services on the Moosonee end that might further stabilize or even grow these numbers.
Cochrane’s second major attraction is the Polar Bear Habitat complex, a facility dedicated to
conservation, research and education programs that promote an appreciation for Polar Bears. Its
most unique feature is the wading pool, separated from the bears’ swimming area by a sheet of
133
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (2014). Ridership Statistics for the Little bear/Polar Bear Express, 20072014. Obtained through personal communication with Natalie Hughes, Northern Development Advisor, South
Porcupine, October 22, 2014. See Appendix H for the complete chart.
134
Note that ridership figures from 2014 are based on statistics for only five months of the fiscal year (i.e. April 2014September 2014.
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