Anyone else think the train from Union to Pearson seems a bit overpriced? I know it's not running yet, but the prices are on their website.

I would pay that to get from the airport to Union in 25 min
Of course, if I have plenty of time, I will continue to use the TTC instead.

If u are traveling by yourself it's ok. If you traveling with others a cab is better.

Compare to $30+ for the express trains from London, UK airports to central stations. Always found the Gatwick Express particularly funny as it's not much faster than a normal train, but costs a lot more. The Union Pearson Express has no reasonable competition so I was actually pleasantly surprised by the price.

NYC Airtrain from JFK to Jamaica Station is $6USD.

Ya it's really only useful if you are traveling solo. Otherwise the $50-60 cab is better. ..and you don't need to mission to or from Union

$30+ in UK is like $15 living expense adjusted in Canada So I think it should be sub $15!

Having lived in both places Dominic Lee, I have never found that to be true. Of course it's different for visitors than for locals but I find cost of living vs. salary has balanced out for me, generally.

I prefer the TTC + the rocket bus. Doesn't take too long, maybe like an hour total

It is $19 with a Presto card, that is not bad.

I don't know who they are targetting. When I travel for business I take a cab and expense it, no matter what cost. When I travel on my own, I get someone to drop me or take the TTC.

Good point Mezba. They'd get a biz following visiting within walking distance of Union because it's faster, but transit users not located so conveniently will continue to go the $3 way. Prediction: post panam games it quickly reverts to being part of regular suburban GO service at regular fares

It may be worth taking this train if you are travelling alone. But if you are travelling a family of four then a cab might be cheaper. Lots of people take 192 TTC express bus from Kipling station. TTC option will cost only $3.

uber works for me.

If you don't have a rail pass its 30$ to go from narita to Tokyo so this doesn't seem too much to me

Way too expensive!

Mike sears Narita to Tokyo takes almost an hour or you can take a $300-$500 USD cab ride in rush hour. I would not compare that kind of options to Toronto's. Things are relative....

Also you can take the Keisei train to Narita for considerably cheaper.

Just take the TTC.

arlanda express in Stockholm is 70 bucks round trip ..if i lived downtown id take it...maybe a little high. but there's always "the rocket".

Doesn't make sense for anyone who lives north of bloor or to take the UP train at all.

uber to Pearson is $36 from Bayview & Davisville. $3 + $25 for UP train... not worth the $6 savings.

The fact that Toronto somehow got money funnelled into this ridiculously overpriced thing makes me so angry. We need better public transit...not a train to take rich people to the airport!

If you're in the subs, and go transit into Union, UP would be for you. But if you are in the subs, you know someone with a car who would drive you or are so attached to your own car that you'll park & fly...

Presto is free to set up and lowers the price to under 20.

But william ju.. the cost of living in Toronto is more expensive than 90+% of major US cities. Maybe a realistic price should've been like 24/25 bucks without the presto card...

Daniel Poirier. Exactly. I have a family of 4. We rode in a Cadillac Escalade from door to door cheaper than this would cost for 4. What sense does their pricing make? Make it so it would be "stupid" not to take that train.

uber!

Many seem to have way lost sight that this thing is competing with the car on speed more than price (works IF you're downtown to start with) so taxi comparisons fall apart somewhat unless you have a magic tunnel

Is it possible that the UP Express is aimed more at tourists who are unaware of the transit system in Toronto and just need a really easy way to get downtown?
Even when I'm at yyz, the ttc isn't clearly marked and even I'd have a hard time finding "the rocket" at the airport...so I'm guessing the UP Express will have more visible sineage which will draw "newcomers" to the easiest way to get downtown? Who knows.

I hope they lower the price after the Panam games. If not... airport taxi for me. Or a lift from a friend.

when UP was being planned out, it was explicitly said that UP was aimed at business travellers. this price range has been public knowledge for years, as has been the target group. if the UP doesnt make sense for the majority of travellers, it's because it's not targeted for the majority of travellers.

Take an uber!

I never heard or read about UP being aimed at business travelers. On the website they write about it being ready for the Panam games, reducing traffic, and making things easier for tourists, consumers as well as business travelers. So if you can post a link to where it states that it's focus is business travelers that would be great.

$4 from downtown Vancouver to airport on Canada line skytrain!

Prolly the most expensive pricing in the world to get to an airport using public transit

I love paying for a parking fee that I never used! Sign me up!

Thanks Mauricio, very interesting.

uber 32$ downtown toronto, use tmckp code for $20 off first ride

You are paying for speed and consistency, something cabs/uber/ttc don't offer from downtown. As someone who recently drove from downtown to Pearson at 6pm on a Friday and paid $60 to park at Pearson for weekend, I'd rather have taken the UP Express. It's not for everybody but it will sure be convenient for those it's for.

A few things are clear...1) for those who already use the TTC, this is an overpriced option considering you still have to lug your bags & get to Union.
2) Comparing ourselves to any other metropolitan city is foolish because our infrastructure cannot compete with that of ANY of the other cities mentioned.
3) If you REALLY want the BEST airport express experience, go to Hong Kong!! For about $20 ROUND TRIP you check your bags & get your boarding pass at the train station & they arrive at your final destination ...

I think they'll definitely get the corporate business. It's faster than taking a cab and definitely more reliable because you don't have to guess how long you'll be stuck in traffic. I don't think they even need to market to that segment. Now they just need to convince leisure travellers to use it.

I cannot believe the people of Toronto...you have complained for years and years that its the only major city without an airport to downtown train, then howdy doody spends ALL Ontario tax payers money on getting you one and now your complaining....guess you figure you get everything for free to the detriment of the rest of Ontario

Wow, simmer down. Yeah, Toronto should have a train going from Union to Pearson, and at a DECENT price. We got the first part and now many want the second part. But who said anything about it being free?

What we got was insanely expensive to build what with dedicated trains and platforms etc, and will probably need big operating subsidies anyway given not many people would use it. Poorly conceived project much like Sheppard/ soon to be Scarb subways. More GO service on existing line plus shuttles from existing Etob N or Malton stations, would have done an effective job for less.

$12.50 from Newark to Penn Station is reasonable. This should have been priced in the high teens for Union and low teens for the other stops

It's $19. You don't consider that high teens?

£35 Sterling (almost $70 CDN) for Heathrow to London, purchased in advance or £40 on the train. $27.50 doesn't look that bad.

That's nice... good for London. I live in Toronto though.

Mat, give Stewart a break. This thing has grown beyond your original question so the annoyance is misplaced. UPX literature tries to show (badly we seem to have concluded) what a 'world class' airport express might be worth by comparison. Then again, heathrowexpress.com says even biz class bought on the train is £29.50 so what's the 35?

It's not misplaced. The idea that because something is expensive in one country, it should be expensive here is ridiculous.

Well, that's what UPX propaganda tries to say so of course it enters the discussion room. We chill and stay in the room, or bow out

@Patricia $27.50 regular or $19 presto but you need to pay $6 for a card. So no, I don't consider that high teens.

Well, lets bring up all cities then lol Don't want others to feel left out. So, how about Bangkok

We'll see what happens to the prices after the Pan Am games. Maybe they will go down... who knows.

the price was planned about 8 years before the Pan Am games were even bid for toronto. remember, despite what current marketing tactics may make it seem, UP was not planned for the Pan Am nor is it targeted for the Pan AM - it's targeted for business travellers who will pay these prices with or without the Games taking place.

therefore, i dont think the prices will go down once the Games are over

Maybe they will, and maybe they won't. Who knows. Unfortunately magic 8 balls aren't really a thing anymore, so I can't ask it

I personally think that it is a decent price as it is on par with most European airport train and other major cities from my recent travels to Milan, rome and tokyo. But London is by far the most expensive but worth it in my opinion.
So union express is a very good price.

Comparing this to Tokyo is dumb. This UP train takes 25 minutes. The Narita Express takes an hour and a half and costs 4000 yen roundtrip (so $20 CAD each way).

Well, the new improved train from London to Hogwarts costs $47 CAD when converted... sooo.... We should just be happy
..... Right?

I like the idea of no traffic, wifi etc. and I have a presto card however getting to Union Station is a cab ride for me. I will try it once to see. I usually park and fly.

For a family, better off in a cab

$19 isn't great but still a decent value IMO. If price is a concern take the TTC.

http://www.upexpress.com/en/information/information.aspx...
UPEXPRESS.COM
  - Union Pearson Express | Information

Not sure why someone on here said $36. The website says $27.50 and with a Presto card only $19. Seems pretty reasonable to me.