LNahid2000
Senior Member
Agreed, I'd probably use the TTC too since the maximum 15 minute time savings (and possible zero time savings) isn't worth $9 to me.
Toronto Union Pearson Express | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | MMM Group Limited
TOareaFan
Superstar
when I googled it it showed a 6 minute walk from Dundas W to UP.....but even though I am a fan of UP I am not sure I would double back to catch it either. That 15 minute saving could get totally eaten up by getting there just as one train leaves.
TOareaFan
Superstar
presuming the fare is dropped to $9 (presto) as speculated....does that end the airport worker subsidy......I would think so.
TOareaFan
Superstar
TOareaFan
Superstar
kEiThZ
Superstar
And yet we now know that this is board is totally sensitive to political backlash.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Yes and no - planning is a little different from fare structure/daily operations - certainly it isn't sensitive regarding fares in the way TTC is - and re: UPX, I think the issue of concern politically is more the optics of low ridership (i.e. accusation of white elephant) than high fares per se.
AoD
nfitz
Superstar
So Bloor to Weston on UPX is now $4.71 compared to $5.02 on GO?!? Now that's just weird.
And Bloor to Pearson for only $5.02 - but the GO fare is $6.84 to Pearson (if such a routing existed) and Malton GO.
And Bloor to Pearson for only $5.02 - but the GO fare is $6.84 to Pearson (if such a routing existed) and Malton GO.
christiesplits
Senior Member
"Under $5.00" has as better ring to it.
DonValleyRainbow
Senior Member
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Am I seeing things, or are return fares more than twice the one-way fare?
EDIT nevermind, they're twice the non-Presto fare. Wow, I thought I was losing it.
TOareaFan
Superstar
Yeah....I double checked that too....no need for a "return" fare on Presto as it is just independant taps that would, you know, count double...but I had the same initial reaction as you did.
TOareaFan
Superstar
reaperexpress
Senior Member
Looking back through the past few pages it looks like we've covered most of the major topics. But one I'd add is the marketing impact of this fare change.
Indeed, the media coverage has undoubtedly dissuaded potential ridership by pushing the sensationalist headlines of a service which is out-of-reach to ordinary citizens. So much so that people are under the impression that it would cost them nearly $30 per ride (while GTA readers would best get a Presto card and) , or that taking a family of four would cost over $100 (while there was a family fare which cost barely half that much).
This drastic change in fare structure gives Metrolinx the opportunity to completely step away from the bad press and misinformation. People may now choose to take a second look at the actual fare structure rather than discounting the service as the press had been instructing them to.
Very odd indeed. It appears they're introducing a fare system that is nearly identical to GO's fare system but not actually a part of it. This would be very concerning, especially given the new proposed Union-Pearson Presto fare is only $1.30 more than the equivalent GO Transit fare - which would be a reasonable surcharge for airport station within an ordinary commuter or regional rail network. As an extreme example, disembarking from an ordinary New Jersey Transit commuter service at Newark Airport brings a $5.50 surcharge above the ordinary NJT fare (for a total of $13 from New York Penn).
If it does turn out that this hypothesis is correct and UP's fares are independent from GO's fares, I hope it is only a temporary measure until the Presto readers can be adjusted to merge UP into the GO fare system. I think that could be done by reassigning the Presto readers at Union, Bloor and Weston to be just ordinary GO readers, and to have the readers at Pearson be a part of a new artificial fare zone which is $1.30 "further away" than the actual Pearson/Malton fare zone.
It would be very disappointing if Metrolinx chose to operate two nearly-identical fare systems side-by-side. It would undermine their credibility in co-ordinating fares between other agency if they don't even integrate fares between their own operating divisions.
I'd certainly hope so. With the fare now dropped to ordinary commuter-rail levels, there's no longer a need to provide "luxury" services to justify the high ticket price. I think they could drop some of the customer service staff at terminals, whose overabundance exists to ensure a pampered customer experience. And merging UP and GO into a single organization would probably save a fair bit on behind-the-scenes staffing costs.
I also wouldn't mind a second shot at a half-decent paint scheme on the trains...
Indeed, the media coverage has undoubtedly dissuaded potential ridership by pushing the sensationalist headlines of a service which is out-of-reach to ordinary citizens. So much so that people are under the impression that it would cost them nearly $30 per ride (while GTA readers would best get a Presto card and) , or that taking a family of four would cost over $100 (while there was a family fare which cost barely half that much).
This drastic change in fare structure gives Metrolinx the opportunity to completely step away from the bad press and misinformation. People may now choose to take a second look at the actual fare structure rather than discounting the service as the press had been instructing them to.
Very odd indeed. It appears they're introducing a fare system that is nearly identical to GO's fare system but not actually a part of it. This would be very concerning, especially given the new proposed Union-Pearson Presto fare is only $1.30 more than the equivalent GO Transit fare - which would be a reasonable surcharge for airport station within an ordinary commuter or regional rail network. As an extreme example, disembarking from an ordinary New Jersey Transit commuter service at Newark Airport brings a $5.50 surcharge above the ordinary NJT fare (for a total of $13 from New York Penn).
If it does turn out that this hypothesis is correct and UP's fares are independent from GO's fares, I hope it is only a temporary measure until the Presto readers can be adjusted to merge UP into the GO fare system. I think that could be done by reassigning the Presto readers at Union, Bloor and Weston to be just ordinary GO readers, and to have the readers at Pearson be a part of a new artificial fare zone which is $1.30 "further away" than the actual Pearson/Malton fare zone.
It would be very disappointing if Metrolinx chose to operate two nearly-identical fare systems side-by-side. It would undermine their credibility in co-ordinating fares between other agency if they don't even integrate fares between their own operating divisions.
I'd certainly hope so. With the fare now dropped to ordinary commuter-rail levels, there's no longer a need to provide "luxury" services to justify the high ticket price. I think they could drop some of the customer service staff at terminals, whose overabundance exists to ensure a pampered customer experience. And merging UP and GO into a single organization would probably save a fair bit on behind-the-scenes staffing costs.
I also wouldn't mind a second shot at a half-decent paint scheme on the trains...
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One thing that I haven't read anywhere is whether there will be separate lines or "priority boarding" for Pearson-bound passengers at Union that have a plane ticket. If the commuter usage picks up, they could potentially be crowded out, or stuck waiting in line. Inbound it isn't a big deal, since the first stop is Pearson, but outbound could be an issue.
TOareaFan
Superstar
I could be way wrong....but based on current GO usage to Bloor and Weston....I doubt it is an issue in the immediate future.