Riders on the Polar Bear Express will undergo a “health check” prior to boarding the train.
The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission will be following new federal restrictions to prevent the COVID-19 spread that now apply to inter-city passenger rail and air travellers, as issued by federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau, March 28.
The new measures go into effect at noon on March 30.
The same measures are required of all air carriers to conduct a survey of travellers prior to boarding a flight within Canada or departing from Canada. Passengers are required to answer truthfully.
Besides asking health questions, air and rail carriers must look for visible signs of illness prior to boarding.
Air and rail operators can refuse boarding to passengers who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
The denial will remain in effect for a period of 14 days, or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms that the traveller’s symptoms are not related to COVID-19.
For air carriers, these measures will apply to aircraft with 10 seats or more.
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“It is important to note that no person should board the train when they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms,” in a message Ontario Northland posted on Facebook.
The Polar Bear Express runs two days a week between Cochrane and Moosonee on the James Bay coast.
Other passenger rail operators subject to these new measures are: Great Canadian Railtour Company, Keewatin Railway Company, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), Pacific & Arctic Railway Navigation, British Columbia & Yukon Railway, British Yukon Railway doing business as White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, Transport Ferroviaire Tshiueti, and VIA Rail.
These measures do not apply to commuter trains.
Ontario Northland said the Cochrane Station Inn is temporarily closed but the customer service counter inside the station remains open for bus parcel and ticketing service.
