Hovercraft that will go from Toronto to Niagara in 30 minutes moves closer to completion

Although it’s taken longer than initially anticipated, the promise of a rapid transit hovercraft that will ferry people from Toronto to Niagara in 30 minutes is moving closer to reality.

Recently, Hoverlink Ontario, a company founded by Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Christopher Morgan, said it has finalized an agreement to secure its Toronto landing in the western gap of Toronto Harbour. In a news release, the company said that since its Niagara site is “shovel-ready,” securing a Toronto site moves it one step closer to launching North America’s first large-scale hovercraft transit route.

The service will connect downtown Toronto and the Niagara Region in just 30 minutes, cutting travel time by up to 90 per cent compared to existing car or train options.

The project, first announced in 2022, was initially anticipated to launch last summer.

When he announced the new service in 2022, Morgan said, “Toronto and Niagara Region are about to get a whole lot closer. We cannot wait to finally provide a fast, reliable and sustainable transportation solution that connects tourists and commuters in only 30 minutes.”

“There is already an incredible amount of interest in the project, and we look forward to speaking with more people in the weeks and months ahead.”

The company said it plans to discuss the project’s momentum at an upcoming Toronto Region Board of Trade event on May 28.

Hoverlink says the high-speed service is designed to be a dependable, low-emission alternative to the QEW.

The company said each climate-controlled craft, built with amphibious technology, can carry up to 180 passengers and run year-round. Once active, the service could remove 8,000 cars from the QEW per day, according to a company news release.

In 2023, the company said a round trip could cost between $50 and $60.

“Toronto and the Niagara Region are about to get a whole lot closer,” Morgan said in a statement released this week.

“We are extremely pleased to finally have the opportunity to provide a fast, reliable and sustainable transportation solution that connects tourists and commuters in only 30 minutes. It truly is connectivity without congestion!”