The Minister of Northern Development and Mines says there’s no plan to bring the Northlander passenger train back.

Michael Gravelle made the remark last week when he was in North Bay for a funding announcement.

But, he says that doesn’t mean the Wynne government isn’t going to make changes to transportation in the north.

“We certainly don’t plan on bringing the Northlander back, but we’re looking at transportation options all across the north. There’s the Northern Ontario Multi Modal Transportation Strategy that will be released soon. And we’re looking at those kinds of options as to where the needs will be for rail transportation as well,” he said.

Gravelle says a few years ago the government made the decision to keep most of the ONTC in public hands.

“We kept 4 of the 5 lines in public hands and that was a real triumph. The ONTC is growing and expanding and doing a great job for Northern Ontario,” he says.

Gravelle also says they recently expanded bus service to reflect the need for people to travel to and from communities in the north.