[Allandale25]

Star article noting they have a deal with Ports Toronto.

Hoverlink will be allowed to dock its vessels on a new landing pad connected to Billy Bishop in the harbour's western gap. Passengers would wait in a covered area next to the air terminal, and get to and from the mainland through the airport tunnel.

Niagara in 30 minutes? Toronto hovercraft service clears major hurdle — but could still face choppy waters

Hoverlink Ontario Inc. said its service is still in the planning stages and it could be three years until its maiden voyage.

www.thestar.com

 

[SubHuman]

https://archive.is/NHz4p

Last year the company secured a long-term lease for the Niagara side of its operations, on a spit near the entrance of the Welland Canal...
The company has previously said it would charge about $60 for a round trip, but Potrz said this week it’s still determining pricing.

I suppose it might be fun to try once for the novelty of it, but I'm not sure how useful it would be. They mention the examples of using it to travel between the places "for a sports game or concert". Those typically may not end until 11 pm or later, and people would need some time to get to the terminal from the venue. The island airport has an 11 pm curfew, so it's difficult to imagine this would not face a similar restriction. If you are coming back from Fallsview, you would first need to have some way to get from there to the Welland Canal terminal, and likely a hovercraft that would be arriving at YTZ at midnight or later.
It looks like the buses between the GTA and Fallsview now charge $50 for a round trip, and I'm guessing would likely end up taking about the same total time when returning at that time of night.

 

[mrgrieves]

https://archive.is/NHz4p

I suppose it might be fun to try once for the novelty of it, but I'm not sure how useful it would be. They mention the examples of using it to travel between the places "for a sports game or concert". Those typically may not end until 11 pm or later, and people would need some time to get to the terminal from the venue. The island airport has an 11 pm curfew, so it's difficult to imagine this would not face a similar restriction. If you are coming back from Fallsview, you would first need to have some way to get from there to the Welland Canal terminal, and likely a hovercraft that would be arriving at YTZ at midnight or later.
It looks like the buses between the GTA and Fallsview now charge $50 for a round trip, and I'm guessing would likely end up taking about the same total time when returning at that time of night.

what does the business case rest on then? maybe its meant more for commuters. Niagara region has a big population

 

[DSCToronto]

MODS might want to adjust THREAD TITLE. projected start date now 2026

 

[MisterF]

what does the business case rest on then? maybe its meant more for commuters. Niagara region has a big population

There's a lot of traffic between Niagara Region and the GTA. The QEW is routinely congested all the way to Niagara Falls, especially in the summer. There aren't a lot of viable alternatives to driving as the trains are slow and infrequent. So I can see where a business case could be realistic.

I'm still skeptical that a private, for profit model is the way to go and that hovercrafts are the right technology. But a service run by a public agency could probably be viable.

 

[lenaitch]

There's a lot of traffic between Niagara Region and the GTA. The QEW is routinely congested all the way to Niagara Falls, especially in the summer. There aren't a lot of viable alternatives to driving as the trains are slow and infrequent. So I can see where a business case could be realistic.

I'm still skeptical that a private, for profit model is the way to go and that hovercrafts are the right technology. But a service run by a public agency could probably be viable.

Metrolinx - Hovercraft Division!

 

[mrgrieves]

There's a lot of traffic between Niagara Region and the GTA. The QEW is routinely congested all the way to Niagara Falls, especially in the summer. There aren't a lot of viable alternatives to driving as the trains are slow and infrequent. So I can see where a business case could be realistic.

I'm still skeptical that a private, for profit model is the way to go and that hovercrafts are the right technology. But a service run by a public agency could probably be viable.

i think it's compelling but I have no idea about technical challenges of operating a ferry over such a long distance by a public agency. I'm curious if a hovercraft can operate in bad winter weather

 

[Bojaxs]

If this proves successful it would compliment the Lakeshore West line perfectly. Effectively creating some kind of transit loop. Particularly if you can catch the Niagara Express train after riding the hovercraft . We would just need to figure out how to improve the connection between Billy Bishop and Exhibition or Union Station. Stub subway line to Union station? Something similar to the Yellow line in Montreal? Underground, people mover to Exhibition?

A 30 minute trip to Toronto from St. Catherine's/ Niagara Falls would definitely be a game changer for the region. It would also shorten trips for people from Niagara wanting to go to places like Pickering, Aurora, Markham, etc.

 

[lenaitch]

I'm curious if a hovercraft can operate in bad winter weather

Interesting point. I don't know the typical ice cover conditions for western Lake Ontario, but shore-fast ice may be more prevalent, particularly in protected waters. If the service is only seasonal, or is seasonally unreliable, it won't much help as a commuter service.

 

[MisterF]

Apparently they're using Port Weller on the other side of the lake. That's useful for people who live in St. Catharines but it's a long way from places tourists want to go. Hopefully they set up shuttle buses to the Falls and Niagara on the Lake or have schedules lined up with Niagara Region Transit. Otherwise they'll have a last mile problem.

If the ferry stopped at harbours like Niagara on the Lake or Queenston that would get them a lot closer to tourist destinations.

Interesting point. I don't know the typical ice cover conditions for western Lake Ontario, but shore-fast ice may be more prevalent, particularly in protected waters. If the service is only seasonal, or is seasonally unreliable, it won't much help as a commuter service.

My understanding is that Lake Ontario typically stays mostly unfrozen because of its depth. But certain areas can freeze. The Toronto Islands ferries run all year so longer distance ferries should be workable. Hovercraft have the advantage of being able to run on ice.

A disadvantage would be the noise. I hear those things are awfully loud.

 

[nfitz]

My understanding is that Lake Ontario typically stays mostly unfrozen because of its depth. But certain areas can freeze. The Toronto Islands ferries run all year so longer distance ferries should be workable. Hovercraft have the advantage of being able to run on ice.

I'd think that Hovercraft would have an advantage in winter (assuming the ice doesn't cause issues with the flotation system).

But wouldn't the Toronto Island ferries have a bubble system? That wouldn't work out in the lake, and be economically infeasible if they hugged the shoreline.

 

[Jonny5]

https://archive.is/NHz4p

I suppose it might be fun to try once for the novelty of it, but I'm not sure how useful it would be. They mention the examples of using it to travel between the places "for a sports game or concert". Those typically may not end until 11 pm or later, and people would need some time to get to the terminal from the venue. The island airport has an 11 pm curfew, so it's difficult to imagine this would not face a similar restriction. If you are coming back from Fallsview, you would first need to have some way to get from there to the Welland Canal terminal, and likely a hovercraft that would be arriving at YTZ at midnight or later.
It looks like the buses between the GTA and Fallsview now charge $50 for a round trip, and I'm guessing would likely end up taking about the same total time when returning at that time of night.

Blue Jays and TFC often play in the afternoon, so that could work for them, and I wouldn't be surprised if they strike a deal with Porter to have access to their shuttle service, and perhaps they could set up their own similar service on the other side to and from the Fallsview area.

Still not ideal, but I wouldn't be surprised that's part of their business plan.

 

[Sauga89]

Apparently they're using Port Weller on the other side of the lake. That's useful for people who live in St. Catharines but it's a long way from places tourists want to go.

I can't seem to find an exact location on the proposed Port Weller terminal. There is a big difference between being on the east and west sides of the canal. A terminal on the east side would be closer to the falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, but that would mean St. Catherines commuters would have to factor in the lift bridge being raised. The graphic of the Port Weller terminal seems to indicate the west side, but I can't find anything to confirm that.

 

[urbancog]

I'd think that Hovercraft would have an advantage in winter

Yes, because they use ground effect to fly over water, or ground, or ice, (their skirts don't normally touch the surface they're operating over) operation over flat ice would be a bit easier than over waves in open water. If we get ice ridges building across the lake in winter, that might be more of a challenge.

 

[JasonParis]

I'm curious if they will accept bikes. And yeah, Port Weller isn't really where anyone wants to go. You'd need some beefed-up Niagara Region Transit services to complement it.