After only 2 seasons the Rochester to Toronto fast ferry is out of buisness.
They Lost about 2.5 million a year not inlcuding bonds…My Opionin is that they are not counting the econmic benifit that tourist bring that may exceed 2.5 million dollers. The Ferry Co. was counting on truck and comtainer service that never materlised due to exxcessive customs restrictions. It Seems that US Customs tends to kill anything inlcuding Amtrak Talgo that would improve cross boarder traffic and improve the econimy…Perhaps they are bot bribing theright people…Perhaps we should pay disgruntled homeland security people more money…Perhaps we should just fire all them basterds and start anew
Well, the Ferry lost a ton of $$[:(] when it sailed,and even more when it didn’t. The operators erred in that they tried to operate between two “Soviet Republics” [8](Ontario and New York) neither of which are going to want any private venture succeed, at the expense of their bridges![banghead] Ontario Car Ferry Limited, knew the jig was up long before last trip to Coburg (east of Toronto)sailed in 1950. Its primary revenue source had been coal by the carload from central Pennsylvania mines, served by the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh, which was merged into B&O in the early '30s.
What would possibly be the reason someone would want to go to Toronoto?
You have a fair point, there.
Red Green was just seen headed south with a pallet load of duct tape. Better run while the both of you still have a chance!
Is this discussion related to the car ferry that was tied-up at Erie, PA (on the waterfront) for several years. ?
Well having travelled to that part of upstate New York on business several times recently, if I was stuck living there I could think of a host of reasons I might want to go to Toronto (and not come back).
And this thread has what to do with railroading?
LC
What does this have to do with railroads? plenty…now that Amtrak and Greyhound Passengers have no other option then to go thru Niagara Falls and go thru customs there…
The fact that Amtrak and Greyhound did not metion the ferry in there scheduesl helps too. The fact that Containers bound for the west coast and other parts of canada could have used the ferry to get to Torontos Intermodal Terminals which Rochester does not have(Did have a roadrailer terminal 6 years ago).
This means that Central New York and New York in genaral is no longer a major player in the world market…So much for the Empire in the “Empire State”.
There are about 20 cities in Asia that are larger then New York City
Who needs a ferry when you could swim across the lake?
How many passengers would bother to take the ferry without any meaningful connetion from the train station? How about none.
As to containers, the capacity of the ferry is limited and when it did operate I doubt it moved a single container. Further, while Rochester may not have an intermodal terminal there are sizeable terminals less than 100 miles away in Dewitt (Syracuse) and Buffalo which are already underutilized and well within two hours draying.
If you’d like to move to Asia, be my guest.
LC
Are you saying the fast ferry could have been used for container freight service? That boat is not specifically designed for the displacement of internmodal. The ferry was made for moving people and some automobiles, but not for moving ajack heavy loads! Even if it could, what is it in comparison to a single intermodal unit rounding the west end of Ontario on it’s way back ENE into Toronto?