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Post by Scott on May 7, 2006 15:17:59 GMT -8
Anyone know anything about the Toronto ferries that run between the waterfront and Toronto Islands? They're passenger-only ferries. There is one car ferry that runs between the harbourfront and the Airport section of the Islands.. it's known as the shortest ferry ride in the world I think. The reason I'm asking is because I'm planning to be in Toronto for a week at the end of this month/beginning of June, so I think I'll go take a look at their ferries. But if anyone has any advice about them (or anything in Toronto), I'll be happy to hear it!  |
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Post by Scott on Jun 7, 2006 22:41:00 GMT -8
I just got back a couple days ago, so I haven't been able to catch up on everything here on the forum yet. Just thought I'd share a couple photos of some of the Toronto Islands ferries I took. They're quite plain, but nice old boats. Most of them are quite similar looking, although there was one (maybe two) that were more "modern" and could carry a vehicle or two (miniature K-class ship(s)).  Toronto was OK. It was the first time I'd spent any time there. It was 27C when we got there.. it was also after midnight. By the time the sun was up it was in the mid 30's and with the humidex or whatever they call it, it felt like over 40. I don't know how people can live there with muggy weather like that. Everyone/thing has air conditioning. Of course it was also smoggy.. which is why the sky looks so grey in the photos.  The Toronto Islands were the best part of the city in my opinion. A bit cooler, and a beautiful park. I imagine it's way busier in the summer with the amusement park open, but it was still really nice and had some great views of the city. We also took a trip on the Toronto subway which was basically the same as skytrain, except underground, with drivers, way more stops, and 30 years older .. everything in Toronto seems 20-30 years older.. from a Vancouver perspective).  We also visited the Toronto Zoo. First thing I saw was a bald eagle... in a cage. Welcome to Ontario! Also went down to Niagara Falls (where it rained) and spent some time along the Welland Canal and a few of the locks along there. It was pretty neat seeing a freighter slowly rising as the lock filled up.  It was also my first time on one of these:  My first time on a commercial airliner that is. Westjet was pretty good, not that I have anything to compare it with:) |
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Post by Balfour on Jun 8, 2006 0:05:20 GMT -8
It sounds like you had a great trip. There's lots to do in the center of the Universe that Toronto is. The last time I was there wa in 2001 for a brief stopover en-route to Orlando, before that it was on a summer vacation in 1998.
Did you go up the CN Tower?
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Post by Mike C on Jun 8, 2006 20:15:35 GMT -8
Yeah! Sounds like you had a good trip! Thanx for the photos, btw.
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 9, 2006 15:19:21 GMT -8
Yeah for the first time flyer WestJet is the Way to Go!! That is basically the same photo I have from the plane community.webshots.com/photo/455852930/1524458753073795431aIHhdyI wouldent mind going to Toronto one day! I would like to see the CN Tower and Niagra Falls. I would like to see the East Coast too a travel some of the different ferrie systems out there. That photo 3 photos down that looks like a K Class what ferry is that??? |
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jun 9, 2006 15:33:08 GMT -8
I'm also very sure Jordan would not mind joining you in going to Toronto right?  |
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Post by Mike C on Jun 9, 2006 16:22:49 GMT -8
Be sure to check out the Staten Island Ferry...I must say, they're basically PAX-only C's.
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 9, 2006 17:04:07 GMT -8
Those are in New York.....Not Torana....I mean, Toronta....Toronto! 3rd times a charm...
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Post by Balfour on Jun 9, 2006 22:10:18 GMT -8
geez Michael... get know which center of the universe is which! I'm also very sure Jordan would not mind joining you in going to Toronto right? oh I'd love to go to Canada's Dirtiest Smelliest city with the most hated hockey team ever..... |
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Post by Mike C on Jun 10, 2006 8:51:10 GMT -8
I would like to see the East Coast too a travel some of the different ferrie systems out there. I'm making a suggestion to Karl, here, who says he would like to tour the East!!!! So I gave him East: Manhatten!!! |
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 10, 2006 9:15:52 GMT -8
East Coast of Canada!!!
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jun 10, 2006 9:51:45 GMT -8
The only good reason to go to the East Coast is to go to D.C. when it is dead empty.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 10, 2006 11:17:25 GMT -8
The only good reason to go to the East Coast is to go to D.C. when it is dead empty. Yeah, I've heard that DC when it's live-full is not very nice.......like at the end of the original Planet-of-the-apes movie, for instance. And Peggy's Cove, St. John's, Green-Gables, Sable Island, Bay of Fundy, what about them? |
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Post by Mike C on Jun 10, 2006 17:28:39 GMT -8
Hehe, sorry, So: Try Newfoundland. |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Feb 20, 2007 8:39:16 GMT -8
John, Heh heh oops!  Thanks for bumping the thread. I was hoping pnwtraveler could take this thread back in the direction it originally was intended to go and provide a little more info on the Toronto area ferries. |
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Post by Scott on Feb 20, 2007 23:52:07 GMT -8
John, Heh heh oops! Thanks for bumping the thread. I was hoping pnwtraveler could take this thread back in the direction it originally was intended to go and provide a little more info on the Toronto area ferries. So would I. Taking the ferry and walking through several parts of Toronto Islands was probably the highlight of my trip. After walking from the University of Toronto campus to the waterfront in 35 degrees (around 40 with the humidex), it was refreshing to get on the water and out to the quiet islands (late May - most of the attractions on the islands were closed). The ships look like they have quite a history behind them - but I've never been able to find much background info on the route or the ferries. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 21, 2007 7:20:39 GMT -8
I will get some info and post it for you in a couple of days. The ferries are older and some quite historic. There are two car ferries actually. One to the Island Airport. It is a new ferry with the older one tied up close by. Not sure if it is being sold or being held as a spare. With a new airline (Porter) starting up service and with substantial expansion plans it looks like the battle over the City Centre Airport will continue. There is a shuttle bus from downtown that uses the ferry as well as Airline Limosine and airport workers etc. Most passengers simply board as foot passengers. The most are foot and bike passenger ferries and leave from the terminal located by the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. The volume of people taking their bikes over is quite large in the summer time. Also the few people who still live on one of the islands tend to use bikes a lot. I won't get into the discussion about the controversy of the housing there because that is a whole story in itself. There are a couple of routes and the trip is short but enjoyable. The water really moderates the temperature in summer. They are very much like older and smaller versions of the Staten Island ferries. In an extreme winter when ice is thick the city sends out other boats to break up the ice. The usually open second floor of the ferry is enclosed in canvas and plastic for winter. Here is a link with info. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Island_Ferry_Services |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Feb 22, 2007 9:11:09 GMT -8
I will get some info and post it for you in a couple of days. The ferries are older and some quite historic. There are two car ferries actually. One to the Island Airport. It is a new ferry with the older one tied up close by. Not sure if it is being sold or being held as a spare. With a new airline (Porter) starting up service and with substantial expansion plans it looks like the battle over the City Centre Airport will continue. There is a shuttle bus from downtown that uses the ferry as well as Airline Limosine and airport workers etc. Most passengers simply board as foot passengers. An aside: I had read that Air Canada had tried to establish service there, and, basically, had been told to take a leap. I also understand that the very existence of this airport is becoming controversial due to its location. Just curious, is all. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 22, 2007 9:32:39 GMT -8
Air Canada had been at the Island Airport for quite a few years under their regional division. It has operated as Air Ontario and then when they merged them all nationally under one umbrella Jazz. They had cut their flights back considerably. Their usual motis operendi when a competitor starts up, is to start a price war and end the competition. Porter decided they were going to begin operations (I believe their company also runs the terminal there or something) and they closed down to do renovations. The water gets really muddy from here on and their is differing stories from the various parties. Basically Jazz pulled its flights or was denied an operating license. There is a limited number of slots available at the airport and the fight is on between Porter who wants to expand dramatically and is commited to the airport and Jazz who has had lukewarm commitment wanting to use up slots again. Porter now flies to Ottawa and Montreal. They want to add services to locations such as New York, Chicago, and a few other short haul U.S. locations. Jazz will never serve those markets from the Island because they or Air Canada already does from the main Toronto airport Pearson. Donald Carty (a Canadian and formerly of Canadian and recently head of American Airlines) is involved in Porter so it seems well backed.
Along the waterfront is a string of condos and it is the same old same old story with airports. People move into homes either near or under flightpaths of airports and then complain afterwards about the noise. Porter is using the latest Dash 8 400 with the quieter engines. Part of the nonsense is that the helicopters and turboprop or piston planes that are allowed to use the airport can make a fair bit of noise. The quieter new generation jets are not allowed (Avro and Bombardiers for example).
There was a bridge to be built to the airport but it became part of an election campaign and was eventually nixed by the current mayor. He would like to see it closed and become parkland or another use. But he doesn't have the authority over it and it gets mirred in between the Federal, Provincial, and city governments and the Port Authority. Very messy.
If you are downtown it saves a huge amount of time to fly out of City Centre. You save the 20 to 45 minute drive to the airport, lines are much shorter for checkin and security etc. You may have to wait for the ferry which goes every 10 or 15 minutes. But if you catch their shuttle bus from downtown to the City Centre airport it is timed to meet the ferry.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Feb 22, 2007 9:52:26 GMT -8
Okay, that fills in some of the blanks in what I was reading. I believe you are correct about Porter holding the lease on the terminal and they are refusing to allow Jazz to operate from it since their contract with the terminal expired. Now, are the newer regional jets not allowed to operate of the runway due to the requirements of the planes i.e. is the runway too short, or is it something else?
Well, the good thing about the termination of the bridge project is that the ferry terminal was reconstructed and a new ferry was purchased!
Looking at the Wikipedia site, it would seem that this year is the 125th anniversary of ferry service around the islands.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 22, 2007 11:49:36 GMT -8
The issue is supposed to be noise but since some of the jets are quieter it doesn't make sense. The people in the area are using the restriction to keep the airport constrained. Jets would open up more cities and make the airport more popular is the thinking. They are probably right. The landing fees at Pearson are among the most expensive in the world so there is a financial advantage to making City Centre viable for a start up airline.
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Thanks for bumping the thread. 
