Union Pearson Express

[Xtrazsteve]

Fares have gone down to $12 for cash and $9 for Presto users this more reaslistic:

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/metrolinx-to-slash-fares-on-union-pearson-express-1.2789400

Why can't it just be like Vancouver. You guys don't pay $12 to get from the airport to downtown and pay an additional fare to get on a bus!

Well, at least there is a rail link unlike Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal. To be far, Ottawa does have a BRT that runs via a transitway but Mississauga will soon have one from the airport to their city centre.

[nfitz]

Why can't it just be like Vancouver. You guys don't pay $12 to get from the airport to downtown and pay an additional fare to get on a bus!

Well, at least there is a rail link unlike Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal. To be far, Ottawa does have a BRT that runs via a transitway but Mississauga will soon have one from the airport to their city centre.

If we were like Montreal, you'd pay $10 for the Airport Rocket bus (but have a free connection to the subway) - but it wouldn't take Presto.

The grass isn't always greener ...

[Xtrazsteve]

If we were like Montreal, you'd pay $10 for the Airport Rocket bus (but have a free connection to the subway) - but it wouldn't take Presto.

The grass isn't always greener ...

On an upside, the bus is a direct connection to downtown with many dropoff/pickup locations. With the UPX, we're all stuck at Union.

Calgary also have a similar bus for $8.50 but also acts as a day pass for the day. Connecting to the TTC should be free.

I think the killer is the difficulty of having just one stop and having the UPX platform with a major walking distance from the subway and GO. Even getting the the skywalk to the York Concourse is a pain with luggage. They are on different levels with minimum signage. Sure you'll run across the sign but how does a tourist know that's where they get the GO Trains. They should just stick a decent map of Union Station right by the UPX platform. Also, TTC should also put the word subway with a train symbol right on front street. I'll just shut up now.

[nfitz]

On an upside, the bus is a direct connection to downtown with many dropoff/pickup locations. With the UPX, we're all stuck at Union.

And yet Montreal is also working on an Airport train that will dump people at only one downtown stop.

I think the killer is the difficulty of having just one stop and having the UPX platform with a major walking distance from the subway and GO.

Major walking distance? You just walk out the side door on the UPX platform, and you are a few metres down the walkway right onto platform 3.

Even getting the the skywalk to the York Concourse is a pain with luggage. They are on different levels with minimum signage. Sure you'll run across the sign but how does a tourist know that's where they get the GO Trains

Signage should be improved - but surely you want to go to the York west teamway from the UPX, if you aren't going to walk direct to Platform 3. Though I admit with luggage and 2 small kids, I took the longer route to get an elevator ... but I'd hardly call it major walking distance - especially compared to what one has to walk in an airport!

[Dane]

The grass isn't always greener ...

In this case, I think the grass is greener. This UPX project has been an expensive debacle. I feel sorry for Tax Payers on this one!

[nfitz]

In this case, I think the grass is greener. This UPX project has been an expensive debacle. I feel sorry for Tax Payers on this one!

At about half-a-billion, it's about 1/5 what that the one-stop subway extension to Scarborough is going to cost (rather than going with the original plan to spend $180 million upgrading the existing RT and extending the stations).

But I don't see how our solution of having an express train, along with express GO service to various centres and the express TTC service to the subway at the same cost as a TTC fare is better than Montreal's solution of an expensive express bus that isn't even compatible with their (much more limited) SmartCard.

[skyfirenet]

At about half-a-billion, it's about 1/5 what that the one-stop subway extension to Scarborough is going to cost (rather than going with the original plan to spend $180 million upgrading the existing RT and extending the stations).

More to the point, we still got new transit out of it. It's just that the incompetence with the fares has caused a needless waste of money on the operations side.

[Xtrazsteve]

Major walking distance? You just walk out the side door on the UPX platform, and you are a few metres down the walkway right onto platform 3.

Signage should be improved - but surely you want to go to the York west teamway from the UPX, if you aren't going to walk direct to Platform 3. Though I admit with luggage and 2 small kids, I took the longer route to get an elevator ... but I'd hardly call it major walking distance - especially compared to what one has to walk in an airport!

Yes the GO platforms are closer but not everyone wants platform 3. With luggage people would want an elevator to get down to York Concourse and they'll have to take another elevator up to their desired platform. With such poor signage, people usually end up taking the long way. How does someone new to Toronto know platform 3 leads to York Concourse. Finding the subway is another story.

At about half-a-billion, it's about 1/5 what that the one-stop subway extension to Scarborough is going to cost (rather than going with the original plan to spend $180 million upgrading the existing RT and extending the stations).

But I don't see how our solution of having an express train, along with express GO service to various centres and the express TTC service to the subway at the same cost as a TTC fare is better than Montreal's solution of an expensive express bus that isn't even compatible with their (much more limited) SmartCard.

I agree Montreal is backwards. The 192 is nice to have and probably the one reason why no one rides the UPX. Even the 34 GO bus is a better idea to get to Yorkdale and beyond. Both cheaper than the STM 747.

[Dane]

There has been some discussion in this thread about UPX going to GO. Looks like that may be closer to reality today: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/head-of-struggling-airport-train-to-be-moved-from-role/article29003930/?click=sf_globefb

I've been watching this project for a long time, and have appreciated reading this thread. This project was so odd in its public funding of a premium service which was inaccessible by fare, and to a more limited degree schedule. It'll be interesting to see what comes from it all.

Also, can you get a Presto card at the airport? I'm going to "rail fan" the UPX in about a month and would like to do it as cheaply as possible

[IRT_BMT_IND]

You can buy them at the airport, I think from a machine. You can get one by mail if you want as well.

[Dane]

Yeah just took a lot at their website. Will probably get one mailed out to BC in advance!

[Xtrazsteve]

There has been some discussion in this thread about UPX going to GO. Looks like that may be closer to reality today: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/head-of-struggling-airport-train-to-be-moved-from-role/article29003930/?click=sf_globefb

It would be better if UPX becomes a "GO Train" line where anyone can buy a fare from anywhere to the airport. E.g. Pickering to the Airport and receive a discount instead of paying two separated fares.

[nfitz]

Yeah just took a lot at their website. Will probably get one mailed out to BC in advance!

No, don't do that. They aren't activated. Then you have to activate it online, and tap it on a device within 30 days.

My understanding is that you can buy them (already activated) from the customer service at the UP station in Pearson airport. This may save you some heartache.

[dowlingm]

It would be better if UPX becomes a "GO Train" line where anyone can buy a fare from anywhere to the airport. E.g. Pickering to the Airport and receive a discount instead of paying two separated fares.

Oshawa GO to Malton GO (which presumably is the same fare zone as YYZ) is $11.77 adult single with Presto. That is $2.13 more than the fare from Oshawa to Union.

[gecalsthom]

It has been a few weeks since the much needed fare change. Anyone know how the ridership is doing?

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

It has been a few weeks since the much needed fare change. Anyone know how the ridership is doing?

Perhaps this article would interest you a bit.

Anyways,

Let's say that I was on the UP Express and the person who say next to me - was my most hated teacher in my childhood days. She asks me on what I am doing thesedays and discussed me on how I got in trouble a long time ago and so forth.

However, that conversation was interrupted by one of the Union Pearson Express attendants demanding to check to see if she had the proper fare to ride the UP Express. It goes like this:

UPX attendant: May I see your proof of fare please?

Teacher: Yes. (hands Presto Card to the UPX attendant)

UPX attendant: Are you going right to the airport?

Teacher: Yes.

(machine beeps with an error)

UPX attendant: Did you tap on the silver validators?

Teacher: What silver validators?

UPX attendant: You made a big mistake, ma'am. You tapped on the green PRESTO validators instead of the silver ones.

In that scenario, who's most likely to blame in this? Either me for not telling her to validate on the silver grey validators or is it the teacher's fault? In a related case, I witnessed the same situation by another passenger over the weekend too.

[TDE]

 

 

 

 

Perhaps

http://www.cp24.com/news/ridership-on-up-express-has-more-than-doubled-since-fares-were-slashed-1.2822630' rel="external nofollow">

would interest you a bit.

 

 

 

 

[Chris W]

A UPX attendant at Union pointed my fiance and I to a green validator on the gift shop side of the UPX concourse. We both had to get our cards overridden as a result. I'd say it was that attendant that is at fault.

[gecalsthom]

On 3/30/2016 at 9:04 AM, TDE said:

 

Perhaps

this article

would interest you a bit.

 

Anyways, 

 

Let's say that I was on the UP Express and the person who say next to me - was my most hated teacher in my childhood days. She asks me on what I am doing thesedays and discussed me on how I got in trouble a long time ago and so forth.

 

However, that conversation was interrupted by one of the Union Pearson Express attendants demanding to check to see if she had the proper fare to ride the UP Express. It goes like this:

 

UPX attendant:

May I see your proof of fare please?

Teacher:

Yes. (hands Presto Card to the UPX attendant)

UPX attendant:

Are you going right to the airport?

Teacher:

Yes.

(machine beeps with an error)

UPX attendant:

Did you tap on the silver validators?

Teacher:

What silver validators?

UPX attendant:

You made a big mistake, ma'am. You tapped on the green PRESTO validators instead of the silver ones. 

 

In that scenario, who's most likely to blame in this? Either me for not telling her to validate on the silver grey validators or is it the teacher's fault? In a related case, I witnessed the same situation by another passenger over the weekend too.

Thank you for the article. It does seem that ridership is much better now. 

On 3/31/2016 at 6:15 AM, Chris W said:

A UPX attendant at Union pointed my fiance and I to a green validator on the gift shop side of the UPX concourse. We both had to get our cards overridden as a result. I'd say it was that attendant that is at fault.

UPX has got the message and has posted this on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UnionPearsonExpressEN/posts/1160344263989948:0

[nfitz]

22 minutes ago, gecalsthom said:

UPX has got the message and has posted this on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UnionPearsonExpressEN/posts/1160344263989948:0

It's fortunate that all the tourists in Toronto frequently check the UP Facebook page before travelling to the airport!

[gecalsthom]

53 minutes ago, nfitz said:

It's fortunate that all the tourists in Toronto frequently check the UP Facebook page before travelling to the airport!

It is better than nothing. It also shows that they are aware of this issue and will make sure staff at the stations will guide passengers towards the correct Presto validation device. 

[nfitz]

8 hours ago, gecalsthom said:

It is better than nothing. It also shows that they are aware of this issue and will make sure staff at the stations will guide passengers towards the correct Presto validation device. 

Last time I took it, I walk in, tapped, and walked on train without interfacing with staff.  If you think you know what you are doing, you might find out that you don't.

They just need to fix this.  I can't imagine it's really that much work to reprogram a score of machines, so they think they are GO devices, and add a Pearson UP station into the fare table.

[Dane]

I did the long layover pass today. Train was reasonably loaded in each direction and I travelled fairly late. It's an impressive and comfortable service. 

 

But it why are there so many station employees? There was probably as many people working UP Express tonight as was working on the entire SkyTtain system in Vancouver - literally. 

Looking forward to using it again. 

[soo8513]

QUESTION:  I`m a senior. When I purchased ny PRESTO card four years ago I had it set to SENIOR by showing my driver`s licence to the GO ticket agent at GO Meadowvale.  Since then Burlington, Oakville, MiWay, Durham, YRT, TTC, Brampton all recognize that I`m a SENIOR and I pay senior rates.

 

The UP Express PRESTO website seems to indicate that I require to do a UP Express registration if I wish to receive SENIOR fare discounts.

Is PRESTO and PRESTO-UP two different organizations

 

 

 

[nfitz]

My daughter has had her Presto card set to Child since I got it from GO back in 2013. It worked fine on TTC for child fares. And on the Union Pearson it also gave her a child's fare (though children are free now - this was before they changed that).

Your existing Presto card should be fine on UP. I think the note is more about new cards, not old ones.