Downtown Toronto/YYZ Air Link with comparison to both London and Philadelphia...
Was just looking at the fares for the
Heathrow Express in London. It's £19 one-way (£18 if purchased online; discounts for children; more for First Class), which is about $30 Canadian. So, a $28 fare from Pearson to Union is not unreasonable (in comparison) for business people or single travellers. Groups and families might find it cheaper to take a taxi or limo or bus.
The Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes, the ride is only 15-20 minutes (depending from which terminal you board), but it only takes you to Paddington Station (west side of central London). When I took it a few year ago on a visit to London, I still had to take the subway from there to get to my hotel. Heathrow is also served by subway.
Canmark and Everyone: Interesting link about London's Heathrow Airport Express...
I wanted to make note and include information on Philadelphia's Airport Regional Rail Line operated by SEPTA...
It is about ten miles from Center City Philadelphia to PHL International Airport...
They charge a somewhat high cash fare for the distance but they also honor all of SEPTA's passes
that are valid on the City Transit Division as well as any Regional Rail zoned Trailpass...
They also sell a $11 Independence Day Pass for individuals that are valid on this line also...
See:
www.septa.org/welcome/airport.html for more Airport Rail Line information...
I want to ask if anyone knows or if it has been mentioned what this line's distance between
Pearson International Airport and Union Station...
If Metrolinx and GO Transit Rail set up fares something like what Philadelphia's Airport Line
has they would probably charge a one way cash fare of perhaps $10 one way and have
fares to all GO Transit Rail points via Union Station/Downtown Toronto...
As for a comparison with honored SEPTA passes this line could honor as example TTC Monthly
and Weekly Passes between Union and YYZ and also all GO Transit Presto cards...I noticed from
looking at GO's site recently that they will no longer sell Monthly passes beginning in January 2013...
This would be more for YYZ workers that commute than for travelers...
What I feel that should be done here is balance the needs of airline travelers with YYZ workers
to come up with affordable fares instead of perhaps going after a high price market and perhaps
pricing out regular commuters...SEPTA's Airport Regional Rail Line balances this well in my opinion...
In closing I am all for Toronto's YYZ Airport Rail Line to be a success right from the start...
LI MIKE