Is there any indication of how fast these are?
It’s supposed to be 70 minutes.
Thanks! I haven’t taken the ferry from Nanaimo in a long time, how does that compare to the regular crossing? I suppose it has the added advantage of ending in downtown Vancouver and not at horseshoe bay
The biggest advantage for me is the time savings on a day trip to Vancouver. It drops off near the waterfront station so I can avoid the vehicle fee and traffic. And hopefully there won’t be issues with cancelled sailings.
The Departure Bay (near downtown Nanaimo) BC Ferry takes 95minutes of sailing to reach Horseshoe Bay on the west tip of West Vancouver. Then if you’re a foot passenger it takes another 41minutes to get to Granville & Georgia via the 257 Express Bus. Total 156minute (2hr & 36min) travel time (excluding any waiting to embark, disembark, catch the bus, etc…).
Foot passenger fees for each leg are $19.45 and $3.15, for a $22.60 total.
So an hour and 20 minutes saved each way for about twice the price. I could see it being valuable for many people
Absolutely. It’s a MASSIVE win. Especially with the farce that BC Ferries has become.
Getting into downtown on foot is going to be huge. Not to mention house prices getting even higher in Nanaimo
So, any ideas for a good day trip in Nanaimo?
Also, doesn’t this mean that people living in Nanaimo could have a shorter commute than those in Langley/PoCo? That’s crazy.
doesn’t this mean that people living in Nanaimo could have a shorter commute than those in Langley/PoCo?
Yes, and that’s something people are chatting about and watching carefully. I know several people in the Abbotsford/Chilliwack area who are paying close attention and seriously considering a move if the ferry works out as claimed. They will have a considerably shorter commute into downtown Vancouver and be able to, for now, buy cheaper homes in Nanaimo.
I already moved LoL a few years ago, and am really looking forward to being able to take the ferry into downtown without the BC Ferries drama.