The $17-million investment in the Polar Bear Express will help upgrade and modernize the passenger rail service in the North. The funding was announced by the province back in 2014 and they are expected to be completed the project by 2019. This is the only year round ground transportation connecting Cochrane to Moosonee and the James Bay Coast. Some of the upgrades to the rail cars include new seats, USB charging stations, accessible washrooms, enhanced luggage space and comfortable dinning cars. Communications Manager for Ontario Northland Renee Baker says they gutted old passenger cars to make the renovations. One of the newly refurbished coaches will be on display at the Ontario Northland station in Cochrane from 6:00pm – 8:00pm today and in Moosonee tomorrow from 5:00 – 7:00pm.
