“The price is a bit high, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind”: why people are paying $27.50 to ride the UP Express

21 thoughts on ““The price is a bit high, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind”: why people are paying $27.50 to ride the UP Express”

1. When something’s cheaper in Norway you know you have a problem

2. They aren’t smart enough to figure out how to use Uber.

3. All engineer’s lawyers, CEO’s and a few clueless tourists. I don’t see as many people as we should see on the train. Who knows, it might last, it might not. The future is in the age of technology, so if they think this system can keep up with whatever improvements of commuting from A to B brings, such as Uber or Lyft, then best of luck.

4. Who are the engineer’s lawyers you refer to? The CEO’s what?

5. A guaranteed 25 minute ride either way (or less if you take it from Bloor or Weston) is pretty amazing as is the fact that you can take a train every 15 minutes. Although I agree the price is high (much less with a Presto card), it is all about convenience and stress-free travel. it works well for people who live along the corridor (many residents of Toronto live in the South and West), those who can get quick access via the TTC, those who have to take the Go Train, VIA train or Amtrak to get home inside and outside of the GTA, and those who do not want to park at the airport for an extended vacation and pay more overall. There are definite advantages. This will catch on eventually. UBER is great for sure but traffic in T.O. can be terrible at times. I would ask that people try it first and see how it works for them. I have and it works really well. This is part of an overall transit plan.

6. It is reliable, convenient and for a single person or any couple that, after a long transatlantic flight, needs to get Downtown, it is faster and cheaper than a taxi. Of course Uberx is cheaper, but if you can only get UberBlack taxis then the UPE is the right option. I have tried it 4 times and it makes sense. And no, Lorenzo, I am neither a clueless tourist, lawyer or engineer. But I will be happy to discuss further with you once I become a CEO. I am sure that the train will repacked when the PanAm games starts up.

7. Neither Uber nor Lyft can guarantee a 25 minute trip from Pearson to Union. Time is valuable.

8. Union to Pearson with a Presto Pass is $19 and takes 25 minutes. Last time I took an UberX during slow commuter times it took about 40 minutes and cost $38. There’s a lot going for both sides of this, but one thing is for certain and it’s that I will never be taking TTC then the 192 Rocket to get to the airport.

9. I don’t understand why the $19 ticket price is so offensive to people? That is a reasonable price, and express trains to international airports are relatively standard for large cities. It’s nice to see a little ambition coming from TO, so let’s appreciate that.

10. This train was designed for business people and tourists, that is it. The average person is totally screwed by the cost and inconvenience of getting to Union.

11. Unless you’re right at Union Station it’s another $3 to get there and you have to factor in the amount of time to get to Union Station, as well. So for two people traveling together without Presto cards, you’re looking at $61 to get to Pearson. It seems like the price was determined to make sure cabs servicing the airport don’t have to compete on cost. Why would people traveling together go this way? The convenience of getting picked up and dropped off wherever you like more than outweighs the marginally higher cost. If UP Express is really supposed to change behavior, the cost is way too high. It’ll go belly up with taxpayers on the hook for it.

12. So it sounds like the game plan is going to be this:

    1) Buy a presto card ($6?) ASAP.
    2) Never pay $27.50.
    3) In the early morning/late evening when commute times are not an issue, take uber (where are you Lyft?).
    4) When there is congestion, use this.
    5) If I don’t have too much luggage and am coming from Bloor, just keep using the 192 shuttle from the Bloor Line.

13. In Chicago, the train to the airport costs $3. In Boston it costs $2.25. The only place I can think of that’s more expensive than this one is from Heathrow to London and that’s only if you want the express (which is faster than UP Express, although Heathrow is father from central London than Pearson is from Toronto). The local is only 6 pounds 50 and takes 45 minutes.

14. All 12 people who took this to the airport were interviewed for this.

15. True. But who’s going from Pearson just to Union? 95% of the people in Toronto don’t live right by Union Station, so they need a cab or the TTC from there.

16. And then there’s the cost of the plane ticket to think of… honestly, quit your bitching. If you can afford to travel, $19 – because that’s the cost for anyone with five extra minutes to grab a Presto card – is not expensive. The minimal cost of the card itself still balances out in one trip. Take a cab or the TTC if you don’t like the UP.

17. Won’t be the five of us in our family. Don’t think we’re the target market.

18. Depends on your location in the city and approximity to transit and the airport.
    For me, taking the subway to take the bus to the airport is a cost convenient option but the time and inconvenience factor is huge. And getting back to the city from the airport is usually an ordeal. So subway/bus usually gets ruled out despite the cost advantage.
    A taxi usually will take me $70.00 to $80.00 in total, one way. An airport limosine with flat rate, is $60.00. So in comparison, taking the UP Express from Union for less than $30.00 is a great option to me. I have already used the UP Express several times since it opened and while $30.00 each way seems inconvenient, it is still better than the taxi or limo, is quick, quiet, and direct from Union. It really has made things easier.
    Should the cost of the UP Express be more compatible to GO Train rates? Absolutely. But I am still winning in cost and time/convenience compared to the other options.

19. Inconvenience of getting to Union?
    I don’t know how inconvenient it is. It’s the hub for all of GO transit, including buses, it’s in the downtown core, it’s obviously on the subway line, hell you could even take a Via rail train to get there, and if you must drive for some reason then the Gardiner and DVP are quite close to Union as well.
    If you’re anywhere around the downtown area or to the east in places like East York and southwest Scarborough then this makes sense.
    Taxi, drive, or TTC to Pearson from somewhere east Yonge and south of St. Clair? No thank you.

20. I recently took the train from Pearson International Airport to Union Station. The ride was a bit shaky but OK. The signage at the airport is very poor. I had to ask several people how to get to the train and most of them did not know. The signage at Union Station to get to a taxi was also very poor. Metrolinx will have to work on directions after we pick up our luggage at the airport. If this is not done, people will take a cab instead because of the difficulty to find the platform for the train. I live in the St. Lawrence neighborhood so the taxi fare cost me $7.50 to get from Union to my home plus a tip. So I ended up paying about $35.00 in total because I am a senior. For me it worked out cheaper than taking a taxi which cost me $57.00 plus a tip when I went away before the train was working. If I was travelling with a partner, I would have taken a taxi. MY BEEF. Work on the signage. It might be a good idea if the fares are made cheaper when two or more people are travelling together. No need to spend all that money to take the train, especially when they have to get to and from Union Station. They can get a cab to and from their home for less. It is a shame that Management did not think of all these things before.

21. Check the regular prices again. I am assuming that is if you travel all the time on certain transit systems and have a Presto card. I may be mistaken about the Presto card. I hardly use public transportation because everything is within walking distance from where I live.

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