In May 2018, Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc. announced that without the necessary provincial funding to maintain its Huron Central Railway it would discontinue those operations by the end of 2018.
As a result, a task force was created in an effort to secure the provincial funding needed to protect the jobs and economy of those relying heavily on this short line railway.
The HCR runs from the City of Greater Sudbury through to Sault Ste Marie.
Espanola Deputy Mayor, Bill Foster, says the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp announced last week $980,000 will be granted to Genesee & Wyoming Canada Incorporated to run for another year.
He adds the Province has indicated it is committed to keeping this critical piece of infrastructure and this funding will for the development of a comprehensive long-term plan to address the viability of this stretch of rail.
Foster adds the loss of this service would significantly affect the economics of the plants and certainty in rail service is very important in capital investment decisions.