cplchanb
Senior Member
Let's hope that Metrolinx learns something from this.......revenues can increase and subsidies decline when you lower the fares.
This clearly proves that people are very price sensitive. This idea of "build it and they will come" is a fallacy if the fares are too high. All the service in the world doesn't make any difference to most people if they can't afford it. This is something that they should keep in mind when they roll out RER. If the trains are as pricey as they are now, it will have little effect hopeful ridership increases.
UPX, at 15 minute intervals, is essential a RER type service. Rising ridership is wonderful but when you consider that only 23% of the riders are commuters not bound for Pearson, that doesn't speak well for potential RER ridership. Imagine how the UPX numbers would soar, especially by commuters and Pearson workers, if Metrolinx brought in further reductions on the line by having total fare integration with the TTC. All of a sudden, the trip from Weston to downtown would drop from $5 plus TTC to $5 minus TTC. Not only would this soar ridership but also would be useful for people who don't live right beside a GO station and aren't just going to Union.
UPX proves that fares matter a lot and the fares & fare integration with local transit services will determine whether RER is a dismal failure or a stellar success.
As good of a story it is to see ridership soar, one has to bear in mind that over capacity is also a detriment to a successful operation. Revenue figures havent been released yet, but it seems as if UPX is almost at the sweetspot in offereing good value for service.
Remember this is considered sort of a semi-higher order of transit, so it needs to be priced according (obviously not as high as day 1). Its meant to be full, but not TTC or rush hour GO train full. Perhaps a $1 discount will be just right to attract riders, but not enough to burst the vehicles and have no spare capacity.