Harbour Ferries 
Why fight traffic on the bridges when you can park at one of our Park & Ride locations and hop on the ferry? In only 12 minutes, you will be on the other side of the Halifax Harbour.
Our ferries operate on two routes between terminals in downtown Halifax, Dartmouth and Woodside. The ferry service is fully accessible, integrated with the bus and Access-A-Bus systems, carries up to 395 passengers, and has adjacent Park & Ride lots.
Posted December 5, 2011
 Woodside Ferry Terminal Elevator Maintenance Dec.12 & 13/11
Woodside Ferry passengers are advised that the elevator in the Woodside Ferry Terminal requires repairs and maintenance, therefore it will not be in operation on Dec.12 & 13, 2011.
A shuttle bus will be available for mobility-impaired customers both days, servicing the upper and lower entrances of the Woodside Ferry Terminal between 6:30 - 10:15 am & 2:45 - 6:30 pm.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
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Posted October 27, 2011
Alderney Ferry Resumes Regular Service - Oct.31/11
Metro Transit is pleased to advise passengers that the Alderney Ferry will resume regular service on Monday, October 31.
We would like to thank ferry passengers for their patience while required maintenance was completed on one of our vessels, and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
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Posted October 12, 2011
Woodside Ferry Terminal Escalator Under Repair
The Woodside Ferry Terminal escalator is currently under repair and will remain out of service until the end of the week.
The elevator, located near the front entrance, remains in service.
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
 Repairs Continue at the Halifax Ferry Terminal
Metro Transit passengers are advised that repairs continue on the pedestrian boarding ramp at the Halifax Ferry Terminal.
Beginning tomorrow, partial closure of the ramp will be required for approximately 2 weeks. For the safety of our passengers, a tarped barrier will be placed on the right side of the ramp to alleviate airborne dust and dirt released from the asphalt work.
Passengers are reminded that due to the marine environment, materials used during the project may have significant odour. While measures are in place to help regulate the environmental impact, persons with sensitivities to strong solvents are urged to use caution and may wish to consider alternative transportation.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
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Posted September 8, 2011
Alderney Ferry Service Reduced to 30 minute Frequency - Sept. 19, 2011
Beginning Monday, September 19, 2011, the Alderney ferry service will be temporarily reduced to one vessel and will operate on a 30 minute frequency.
The Alderney ferry will depart the Dartmouth Terminal at its regularly scheduled time of 6:30 am, with crossings every 30 minutes, on the half hour and hour. The Halifax ferry will leave the Halifax Terminal at its regularly scheduled time of 6:45 am, with crossings every 30 minutes on the quarter and three-quarter hour.
It is anticipated that the vessel will remain out of service for several weeks, due to regularly scheduled maintenance as required by Transport Canada.
The Woodside Ferry will continue to operate on its regular schedule.
For more information on ferry and bus schedules, call 490-4000
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Halifax Regional Council - January 11, 2011
Presentation (Five-Year Approach:Access-A-Bus & Ferry Strategic Plans)
Metro Transit Strategic Ferry Operations Plan
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Schedules:
Alderney Ferry Schedule
Woodside Ferry Schedule
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- Halifax Harbour Fast Ferry Project - March 2006
- Fast Ferry Demand Analysis Report - August 2006
- Fast Ferry Final Report - August 2006
- Fast Ferry FAQ
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News
Navy Centennial & Canada Day Transit Service
- Posted June 17, 2010 (pdf. format)
New Transport Canada Domestic Ferry Regulations
take effect April 1st
- Posted March 31, 2010 (pdf. format)
Alderney Ferry Returns to Regular Service
- Posted October 29, 2009 (pdf. format)
Alderney Ferry Reduced to 1/2 hour Service
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Posted September 10, 2009 (pdf. format)
A bit of History
The harbour ferry service and its recognizable ferry vessels are a distinctive feature of the historic Halifax Harbour. The three ferries, christened the Dartmouth III, the Halifax III and the Woodside I, constantly criss-cross the second largest harbour in the world and have become one of the modern day icons of our region.
The ferry service also provides an important symbolic link with our community's past. In 2002, the Halifax Harbour ferry service celebrated its 250th anniversary, and it is the oldest, continuous, salt-water passenger ferry service in North America.
The "Dartmouth ferry" as it was originally known, began operation in 1752 and served as a vital link for the community of Dartmouth, which was settled a year after the larger British Military Garrison was established in Halifax. With vast farmland, woods and freshwater lakes, the Dartmouth settlers provided the Halifax garrison town with food products and ice for the many icehouses, which were used to keep food fresh. The Dartmouth ferry continued to serve as the only quick way of travelling across the harbour to Halifax until 1955, when the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge was first opened.
Did you know?
... The original ferry vessel used was a large rowboat with a sail
... At one time, the ferry was operated using horses to power a wheel
... Even vehicles were once transported across the harbour by ferry ... In 1839, the Hon. Samuel Cunard was president of the Steam Boat Company, operators of the ferry service at the time. It was in that same year that Cunard secured his contract with the British Government for conveyance of the mail across the ocean by steam vessel, marking the beginnings of the famous Cunard Steamship Lines. |
Today, the harbour ferry service is part of Halifax's regional transportation system, operated by Metro Transit and fully integrated with the bus system. The service was taken over by the regional transit system from the former city of Dartmouth in 1994. HRM's Metro Transit system has the distinction of being one of only two public transit systems in the country to operate passenger ferries. The other is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ferry is treasured by tourists, as a quick, easy, economical way to view our communities from the water, and by its 3000 loyal daily commuters, who value the experience of travelling to work year round by the scenic and convenient ferryboat.
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