Commuters now have another option of getting to and from Pearson International Airport from the downtown core.
The Union Pearson Express (UP Express) officially started at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.
First @UPexpress train has left the station. Big day for Toronto pic.twitter.com/QHgy9BvghW
— Anne Marie Aikins (@femwriter) June 6, 2015
The service will run every 15 minutes, getting people from Union to the airport in 25 minutes.
The cost is $27.50 each way, or $19 with a Presto card.
Aboard the @UPExpress on day one! Ticketing flawless. New car smell! #WeAreUP #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/fuNLgv8rQU
— John Tory (@JohnTory) June 6, 2015
We're moving @upexpress @JohnTory. It's a beautiful morning in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/ETECavPVme
— Chris Eby (@ChrisEbyTO) June 6, 2015
Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said he is very excited about the new service and that it’s a true time saver.
“The 25-minute trip, really when you’re on the train, the whole thing just seems to happen faster than you could possibly imagine. Trains will be running at 15-minute intervals, 19-and-a-half hours a day,” Del Duca told 680 NEWS on Friday.
He also said the cost is on par with other cities around the world.
“When you compare exactly what this is, a dedicated air-rail link from Pearson to Union with what exists with other cities around the world, the price is comparable, it is competitive, and I think, again, we’re in the sweet spot when it comes to exactly what we’re offering with this service and what we’re charging for the service,” Del Duca said.
Listen to the full interview with Del Duca below:
Metrolinx Anne Marie Aikens spokesperson is confident this will be a popular option.
“You can still get to the airport for $3 through the TTC. You can get through a GO bus, so there are other options. So I think, if you can afford it, you will take it,” Aikens said.
The $456-million piece of infrastructure has Wi-Fi and outlets to charge your smartphone.
The UP Express is expected to remove more than a million car trips from the region’s roadways in its first operating year, according to government forecasts.
The government said the service would carry 2.35-million passengers a year by 2018.
