HALI COMES TO HALIFAX

Three-carriage road train provides a free ride on Halifax waterfront

Theodore Tugboat in Halifax now has a female counterpart — a brand new, red and white community road train.

Theodore Tugboat now has a female counterpart — a brand new, red and white, community road train.

Hali (named after her city of work) started on the job June 1 and will run until the end of October. The train is operated by Ambassatours Gray Line and Murphy’s The Cable Wharf, and the idea is to give folks another way to navigate through the downtown core.

She was branded in red and white in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, and comes equipped with bells and the traditional noises heard on train engines.

“I’m actually ordering eyelashes for her today,” said spokeswoman Terri McCulloch.

She says the first week of business has been drawing quite the crowd.

“There’s nothing like a really cheerful train running around the downtown to get people’s attention.”

The three-carriage road train runs a loop along Lower and Upper Water streets and Hollis Street. There are eight stops on the route that include Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Maritime Museum, Province House and the harbour ferry terminal.

Hali runs seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and can carry up to 56 passengers at once, with one carriage being wheelchair accessible.

She says the entire route takes about 20 minutes without traffic, and could take up to 40 minutes where there is some congestion.

There’s no fee for tickets. Riders have the option to pay a suggested donation of $2-$5 on board the train. All proceeds go back into the operation of the service. The train’s main purpose is to move locals around the Queen’s Marque construction zones while also becoming an attraction for tourists and people from out of town.

Hali came into being thanks to the non-profit Halifax Community Road Train Society and help from several corporate sponsors. Halifax Regional Council is still debating whether to assist with funding.

During a March council meeting they were asked for a threeyear commitment that would include $50,000 in support the first year, and then $40,000 and $30,000 the following two years.

Staff are in the process of drafting a report on the pros and cons of financially supporting the train.

They say the report should be tabled for council by mid-July.

THE CHRONICLE HERALD The Waterfront Road Train on Lower Water Street in Halifax sits in front of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic last week. The new, three-carriage road train provides a free ride along the Halifax waterfront.