About TPR
View the Rail Day Joint Declaration signed on October 5, 2008
Rail Day
For some time, SADC Pontiac Community Futures has maintained a commuter service was needed from Pembroke into Ottawa. In cooperation with the former Ottawa Central Railway (OCR), a special Sunday “commuter excursion” was held on October 5, 2008. The passenger list included mayors, officials, reeves, media and invited guests; the event was a huge success. The purpose of the excursion was to allow decision makers in the public and private sectors to experience a rail journey on the corridor in the comfort of a passenger/commuter train setting.
Then, ironically, literally days later, OCR and its parent Quebec Railway Corporation were sold to CN and within months after that, the line known as the Beachburg Sub was placed on CN’s abandonment list.
All of a sudden, a commuter rail service could only be considered at best if the existing rail corridor was preserved!
Welcome TPR!
With the very real possibility of a loss of rail to the region’s industrial base, in July, 2009, SADC Pontiac Community Futures and Renfrew Community Futures established a not-for-profit organization “Transport Pontiac-Renfrew” with a goal and mission to acquire the Beachburg Sub to ensure rail service has a permanent place in the upper Ottawa Valley and Western Quebec.
Commuter Train Survey
Conducted in 2009, the commuter rail survey generated over 600 responses between the Pontiac and Renfrew Counties. Among many findings, 55% of work-bound commuters would board if such a service were in operation. In addition, 35% indicated shopping would be a primary reason to use the service.
