New Ferry Service Suggestion

[Harry]

To Harbour lynx kid

I don't know, Nanaimo airport is not too bad, but the floatplanes fly out of Nanaimo and Victoria, believe me, I used to live in Nanaimo, I actually used your unique ferry service to Vancouver, where I am living now, thanks for the marvelous journey.

TTFN, ta ta for now.
Harry

[cascade]

The main thing is the increase in traffic that use Victoria Airport - size of planes ect springs to mind. Also it is an "International" airport. Therefore the traffic that use it comes from somewhere on the Island.
With 70% of the Island Pop living in the lower half of the Island and this is it's only major international airport - then they are limited to what and where they can fly from.

So build them something like a short cut - that works - cuts time and is cheaper than bringing a car around - if you live mid island.

[NMcKay]

i would think that a Nanaimo -> BB -> Victoria Airport would be better, then you could park LT in Nanaimo, and get to Vic Airport 35 - 40 Mins later.

[cascade]

So if you live in say Duncan - and need to fly out of Victoria Airport - as it is - only apart from Van the only international airport in BC - why would you go north ? I am not sure what size of planes Nanaimo can take -

Park & Ride can be develop on the Mill Bay side then a quick ride across to Pat Bay - shutle bus to airport.

Would generate income - buisness on the Malahat - Mill Bay side - as the lower Saanich area is pretty expensive and full of housing ect.

[Koastal Karl]

We fly into Naniamo quite a bit in our little plane and the biggest planes I have seen at the Naniamo airport are Air Canada Jazz Dash 8's. Nanaimo is a regional airport. None of the big planes go in there. The only other airport on the island where big planes go into is Comox, and I am refering to Westjet as they now fly to Comox. So two airports on the island that serve WestJet. So basically if you live in Naniamo or the area you can just hop on a Dash 8 and go to Vancouver if you have to catch a flight somewhere. Airlines that serve Victoria Airport are WestJet, Air Canada Jazz, Hawkair, Pacific Coastal, HMY Harmony Airways, Jetsgo, and the odd Conquest Vacations, Skyservice, and also Horizon and Airspeed service. Sorry this is a bit off the ferry topic. If anyone is interested in talking about airports and airlines and so on there is a yahoo group at
ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/westair/ Just so you know I dont know if I mentioned it before. I am on there.

[cascade]

Karl,

Thanks for that info. What I was trying to get across - was that if you live say mid-island - then a possible short cut to Victoria Airport - would be a park & ride service from Mill Bay into Pat Bay - then a shutle bus to the airport. This is only for foot pass - which is what BCF report in August 2000 mention - as a possible other use / service for route 12.

It realy is only a service to the airport and maybe some of the local surrounding area. But generaly a service for people going to the airport. It would cut time off driving all around and then out to Sidney.

So the next quesation is - what would the volume of people be and who would use it? Well no one knows until it is started.

You would not use - say the Harbour Lynx on this route - as it is too powerful for such a short run. You need something like what they use - for transfer across main Harbours. Some places have "water Taxi" services across the bay - harbour - that type of vessel - service.

[YZFNick]

Has anyone talked of passenger ferry service directly to Vancouver International? If either BCF or Harbourlynx had a route from either Nanaimo Harbour or Sydney/Swartz Bay it would be very popular. And when RAV is completed, it could connect the south island to the entire city within a couple hours.

[Balfour]

That is a great suggestion. It would be very handy for us North Shore residents who need to make a day trip to the Island and don't want to drive. Take RAV to the airport, and then hop on a ferry.

[NMcKay]

whats wrong with using the Seabus to Canada Place, and then Hlynx to Nanaimo?

[Political Incorrectness]

Strong Skier the RAV line isn't until next year or three maybe not untill 2010 Olympics. Harborlynx Kid where are you coming from

[Balfour]

I'm talking about the future here!

[NMcKay]

Well.. you said North Shore, which i assumed to be north van. take a bus to Lonsdale Quey, then Seabus, and go to nanaimo

[Balfour]

That might work to. Hey HL, Do you know if HarbourLynx is going to start a second run from Dwontown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria?

[Doug]

Harbourlynx Kid thinks that the Vancouver-Victoria service would be at a loss...so I highly doubt it.

And in regards to this "Cascade's" rumors that every BC Ferry route is being sold: it's a joke. I don't know who your associated with, but whoever you were talking to earlier didn't know where the fast ferries were, so now they say that every route in BC Ferries is being sold? I've posted some more about this on the Yahoo! Group, and everyone who responded said this was a joke. We are in BC, Canada. You are in England. BC Ferries is in BC, Canada. Who do you think knows more?

[Balfour]

Thank-you DougUbell for saying that, I really don't know who has been telling this guy such false information but it's time someone said something about this.

[NMcKay]

he may be there. but tha doesn't mean hes stupid. every route is not for sale, but the Money losers are.

[Dane]

Both Translink and BC Ferriea have already done the research to place ferry service, (BCF with passenger only proposal and a vehicle proposal, Translink passenger only). You can find T/Ls proposal on their 5 year plan. Im not sure where the BCF one is (I read it in some service evaluation available at the Vancouver City Library).

It would be a neet service. I'd never use it, but I'd definatly support it.

Why do you think Victoria service would be at a loss, because of all the other options available? The distance/fuel costs?

[NMcKay]

because when Royal Sealink did it, they had to have 50% or greater Non Rev on that route just to make people go on it

[cascade]

Hey DougUbell,

I like your views - but we do have a lot of info. Plus I think that if you read a few bit's more about what Mr. Hahn said at the last InterFerry conf - then just maybe you will understand. Do you fully understand the C-18 Bill ? Coastal Ferry Act? Are you aware that BCFTA can grant a license to anyone - within reason - to operator a ferry system from any of the terminals in BC? They BCFTA actually own the land & Terminals. So in theory any Ferry Op can apply to the Ferry Comm for a License and open it self for buiness.

Everything is for sale - at a price. I agree that the major routes will not be sold - no matter what - but the loss making ones - with old vessels on them - they BCF will look at any offer to take them off their hands.

Would you get rid of two routes that make a $5.5M loss per year - with 3 vessels - ave age is 30 years plus. Just think as a buiness person - and you see that the numbers do add up.

Everyone is entitled to there option on this board - right or wrong.
We go by the facts as shown in Doc's produced by the Governement - or Ferry Comm or the Act's currently as a legal postion.
Yes I fully agree that rumours can be very damaging to a buiness - and we would never lower ourselfs to that level - just to gain some sort of feed back.

[Harry]

Well, why isn't anybody talking about Elizabeth on the Mill Bay run? That's what I started Here, if nobody can remember, study the first and second pages!!! I would love to ride the Mill Bay sometime and when Quinsam should retire in 2025/6 then get a ferry like the Mill bay or even use a vessel like Skeena Queen, Queen of Tsswassen is also a ferry of history, put her in a place like false creek (Vancouver) and turn her into a tourist attraction or even a floating carpark, maybe a hotel,
Mill bay may be useless, but she is the oldest ferry in the fleet and should be put into a ship museum.

Keep the Island's most beautiful shortcut open!!!

Harry Douthwaite.

[NMcKay]

i think you'll find that the quinsam will get a whol new upgrade soon to help with the problem. and she might get her retirement streched to 2030 or greater

[kylefossett]

DougUbell said:

Harbourlynx Kid thinks that the Vancouver-Victoria service would be at a loss...so I highly doubt it.

And in regards to this "Cascade's" rumors that every BC Ferry route is being sold: it's a joke. I don't know who your associated with, but whoever you were talking to earlier didn't know where the fast ferries were, so now they say that every route in BC Ferries is being sold? I've posted some more about this on the Yahoo! Group, and everyone who responded said this was a joke. We are in BC, Canada. You are in England. BC Ferries is in BC, Canada. Who do you think knows more?

cascade, my guy who i get the info that i have from told me last weekend that the majority of routes are not for sale. he has inside knowledge of the goings on with bc ferries as a union guy. some of your info that you post is so far out in left field that i think sometimes that you are dipping in to that bc bud.

[Curtis]

Harbourlynx said:

i think you'll find that the quinsam will get a whol new upgrade soon to help with the problem. and she might get her retirement streched to 2030 or greater

What do you mean problem as in not enough capacity for the Gabriola run what do you think they'll strech her

[Dane]

Harbourlynx said:

because when Royal Sealink did it, they had to have 50% or greater Non Rev on that route just to make people go on it

They took a way bigger loss going to Naniamo, actually.

[Harry]

Well, on the M.V Quinsam, have you noticed the metal bars on her front and rear ends? what will they do with those?
And anyway, M.V Elizabeth might even turn out to be a sister of Skeena Queen!!!
BCF have 2 more of those vessels proposed!

Harry