Polar Bear Express
Booking
Ontario Northland uses a reservation-based system, that allows you to select your seat and purchase your ticket. Customers can print their tickets or ask the ticket agent in Moosonee or Cochrane to do so before boarding the train. Please present your printed paper ticket to the conductor.
Alternatively, customers may choose to present an electronic ticket (viewable on a mobile device) to the conductor, along with government photo ID.
Tickets can be purchased by phone at:
- Cochrane: 800.265.2356 or 705.272.4228 (7:15am-11:45pm Daily)
- Moosonee: 705.336.2210 (10:00am-5:45pm Mon–Fri)
- Timmins: 705.264.1377 (6:45am-10:30pm Daily)
Flag Stop
For passengers boarding at a Flag Stop location, please contact one of our ticket offices noted above. Please note all flag stop times are approximations.
Schedule
The Polar Bear Express departs Cochrane at 9 am and arrives in Moosonee at 2:00 pm. The train departs Moosonee at 5 pm and arrives in Cochrane at 10:00 pm.
The Polar Bear Express operates year-round Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with exception of Christmas day. During peak season June 25th, 2023, through October 20th , 2023 the service adds an additional train departure on Sundays.
Travelling with Children
Tickets for children under the age of two (2) are not required when they are not occupying a seat. Please let the Customer Service Sales Agent know you are travelling with an infant under the age of 2, and a notation will be made on the passenger manifest so the Conductor is aware of the infant travelling with the adult.
Baggage
The Polar Bear Express is equipped with a baggage car, allowing passengers to check their baggage before they depart. Each ticketed passenger is allowed a maximum of three (3) pieces of checked baggage at no charge (weighing a maximum of 23 kg or 50 lbs). Additional pieces may be checked at an additional charge of $5.00 each. Ontario Northland also provides an Express Freight service allowing passengers to ship oversized and/or overweight baggage up to 34 kg or 75 lbs.
The following articles may be checked as baggage:
- Any type of gun, firearm, replicas, ammunition, explosives, or weapons, including cross-bows and arrows (must be locked and secured in proper receptacles)
- Sharp objects such as axes, ice picks, knives or swords (must be locked and secured in proper receptacles)
- Plants
- Bicycles
- Animals
- Groceries (not in excess of 23 kg or 50 lbs and properly packed)
Each ticketed passenger is also allowed a maximum of one piece of carry-on baggage. Personal items such as purses, briefcases, laptops, or infant items such as strollers, car seats or diaper bags are not included in this limit. For more information visit Rules and Regulations or contact us by phone at 1.800.265.2356.
Travel for people with disabilities
Ontario Northland is able to accommodate most wheeled mobility devices on our services. We operate wheelchair lift devices for the train. If you require access to our wheelchair lift in Moosonee or Cochrane, please let us know your requirement and make your reservation 48 hours in advance by calling 1.800.265.2356. Ontario Northland also provides complimentary travel for attendants.
AIR MILES® Reward Miles
Customers can get AIR MILES® Reward Miles when purchasing passenger tickets for our passenger train service.
For the Polar Bear Express, get 1 Mile for every $20.00 spent. Not valid for group purchases or warrant purchases.
®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.
Safety and Security
Ontario Northland is committed to providing a safe and pleasant environment for all its passengers and employees. Disrespectful or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated on board Ontario Northland transportation services or in our stations. To find out more view our On Board Policies and Passenger Code of Conduct.