Hovercraft transit to Hamilton?

SteelTown · #1 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 12:39 PM**

Hovercraft transit firm makes bid to revive Toronto-Rochester ferry

JAMES RUSK
April 9, 2008

A Toronto company that for the last five years has been trying to build a Hovercraft service on Lake Ontario is now trying to revive the Toronto-Rochester ferry.

Hover Transit Services, which proposes to use a Hovercraft that once plied the cross-channel route between England and France, was the only bidder for the right to operate the cross-lake service in a public bidding process that closed at the end of March.

The attempt to revive the ferry service is being spearheaded by the City of Rochester, N.Y., and the Toronto Port Authority, which last month asked companies interested in reviving the service to express an interest in doing so.

Alan Knauf, the company's Rochester lawyer, said last night that the city and the port authority will take 30 to 45 days to evaluate Hover's proposal, which says it could get the service going for $10-million. He expects they will have a number of questions for the company, as the proposal at this stage is not very detailed.

"I assume they would be interested. It would be a great contribution to both communities," Mr. Knauf said.

According to the submission from Hover Transit, which two years ago said it was trying to set up a Hovercraft service between Toronto and Niagara, the company would refurbish and use the Princess Anne, a Hovercraft which has been dry-docked in a marine museum since 2000 after 33 years of cross-channel service.

The submission suggests that the vessel, which holds 400 passengers and 55 cars, could make the 88-nautical-mile trip across the lake in 75 minutes, and offer passenger service for about $30 a person, starting in March 2009.

It says a second British Hovercraft, the Princess Margaret, could also be purchased, refurbished and put into service on Lake Ontario.

The submission added that the company is exploring the possibility of an early-morning commuter shuttle from either Hamilton or Oshawa to Toronto before leaving for Rochester; then, in the afternoon, it would again cross the lake to Toronto, then return to Hamilton or Oshawa.

If the company, which says it has an unnamed partner that already operates a private non-subsidized ferry service between Canada and the United States, goes ahead with the plan, it would be the third attempt in this decade to operate a service.

In 2004, a privately owned venture using a catamaran made in Australia was shut down after less than three months, and the vessel was then sold for $32-million (U.S.) to the City of Rochester, which closed the service in early 2006 after losing $10-million in 10 months.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...ional/Ontario/

See HTS's full proposal here.....
http://www.13wham.com/media/news/5/9...ntact_page.pdf

FairHamilton · #2 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 1:06 PM**

LOL. That's all I have to say.

DC83 · #3 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 1:32 PM**

The Roch-TO idea is silly, imo. It didn't work the 1st time, why would it a second time around?

I do, however, LOVE the idea of the Hamilton-Toronto commute! Why GO doesn't get on board is beyond my understanding.

If they don't make any money on the Roch-TO trips, they will certainly make some on TO-Ham!

SteelTown · #4 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 1:34 PM**

It would be a great way to connect the Niagara Region to Hamilton (with GO Bus) and then have the Hovercraft express to Toronto.

Probably would take 30 minutes from Hamilton to Toronto with the Hovercraft.

DC83 · #5 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 1:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

It would be a great way to connect the Niagara Region to Hamilton (with GO Bus) and then have the Hovercraft express to Toronto.

Probably would take 30 minutes from Hamilton to Toronto with the Hovercraft.

And it would take that many cars off the QEW/407!! Isn't Dalton all about getting cars off the Highway? Hellllloooo!!!! hahaha

Where would the station/port go?
Like what ever happened to that whole massive plan to completely redevelop The Beach Strip w/ reatil, restos, new Police Marine Unit Station & loading port for (potential) marine commuters?

FairHamilton · #6 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 2:38 PM**

Come on guys, the ferry will never float (pun intended).

400 passengers on a trip, how about adding a couple of GO trains (i.e. a Hamilton - Toronto Express GO) that would seem to me to be a more pratical approach given the infrastructure to run the trains is already in existence. No need to build a port, wharf, terminal, provide parking, buy an unproven 40 year old with 8 years in drydock museum (LOL, nothing like resurrecting technology from museums for use today, next someone will suggest sending flintlocks to the troops in Afghanistan) mode of tranport.

IMO, there is little interest in Toronto for anyone to travel to Rochester, period. I think my opinion was proved with the failure of the last ferry service. Also, I’m puzzled with the suggestion in their business plan that peak events would include Buffalo Bill Game days??? WTF, the Bills moved to Rochester…….I must have missed that. Perhaps they are referring to the days the Bills will be playing in Toronto (8 peak days over 4 years).

Finally, their business plan suggests moving the ferry to the Florida Keys or Bahamas during the winter. Isn’t that great, as a commuter I have a way to get to work for 7 or 8 months per year.

SteelTown · #7 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:08 PM**

Isn't Hovercraft able to zoom along ice as well?

SteelTown · #8 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

Where would the station/port go?
Like what ever happened to that whole massive plan to completely redevelop The Beach Strip w/ reatil, restos, new Police Marine Unit Station & loading port for (potential) marine commuters?

If there is ever a GO ferry type of service from Hamilton it would have to be along Hamilton Beach - Lake Ontario not Hamilton Harbour because of the lift bridge.

Could possibly put the ferry terminal by the Fisherman Pier. Redevelop the whole area.

DC83 · #9 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

If there is ever a GO ferry type of service from Hamilton it would have to be along Hamilton Beach - Lake Ontario not Hamilton Harbour because of the lift bridge.

Could possibly put the ferry terminal by the Fisherman Pier. Redevelop the whole area.

Ya, there were plans a couple years ago to redo this whole area already which included a new Police Marine Unit station. I've been searching online most of the morning for these plans, but can't find em :s

But ya, that would be the best spot for a hovercraft station! GO by Train, GO by Bus, GO by... Water?

SteelTown · #10 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:29 PM**

Think the Police opened a Marine Unit at Pier 8 instead.

Would be nice to open up the Fisherman Pier since security is so tight in that area and totally restricted.

FairHamilton · #11 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Isn't Hovercraft able to zoom along ice as well?

Nothing to do with ice, everything to do with no business in the winter. It's right there in the proposal.....

The whole scheme sounds like a good ole Spruce Goose idea.

DC83 · #12 Posted: **Apr 9, 2008, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

Nothing to do with ice, everything to do with no business in the winter. It's right there in the proposal.....

The whole scheme sounds like a good ole Spruce Goose idea.

Upon boarding, you get a pair of Kleenex boxes for your feet! hehe

The Marine Unit at Pier 8 (last I saw anyway) is a shed... it's falling apart... that's why they wanted to move it to this whole development.

Anyone know where I can find that info?