A passenger train running along the Ottawa River between Pembroke and Ottawa would breathe new life into the region, an economic development group says.

The group, in Quebec's Pontiac region, wants the train to travel on existing track west of the national capital, passing through Renfrew, Ont., crossing into Quebec, and dipping through Portage-du-Fort and Shawville before crossing back into Ontario at Fitzroy Harbour, toward Kanata and Ottawa.

The group's chair, Heather Alberti-Dickson, said Wednesday that such a train would "just change the face of Pontiac," a region that once relied on forestry, but has been struggling economically since the downturn in the industry.

Alberti-Dickson said she has discussed the idea with most of the communities along the route, which are all trying to attract homeowners, tourists and businesses to the region.

"They're just so on board with this idea, because they can all see how it's going to benefit their communities," she said.

The Ottawa Central Railway owns the track, which is used daily to haul freight.

James Allen, the railway's general manager, said he supports the new plan and doesn't think it would be difficult to make room for a passenger train.

"Where these projects become difficult is where you have to lay down track. But where we are now the infrastructure is in place, so it's just a matter of using it."

The next step, Allen and Alberti-Dickson said, is to put together a business plan that includes information about the estimated cost of the service and the demand for it.

Once that is in place, the communities hope to approach the provincial and federal governments for money to support the project.

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