By Pepper Parr
December 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The province is moving forward with some pretty big infrastructure projects.
That new Union Pearson Express, a dedicated express train that will provide fast, reliable service between Canada’s two busiest transportation hubs, Union Station in downtown Toronto, and the Toronto Pearson International Airport is to be launched in the Spring.
The terminal at Union Station for the UP express to Pearson airport.
Get ready for a major hit to the pocket book – yours – when the prices are made public. This may well come in at about the $35 price range.
The GTAA – that’s the Greater Toronto Airport Authority – will get $2 for every person that uses the service. They want you to pay them to get on their property to take a plane that they rent space to. Talk about a win-win or should that be Wynne-Wynne?
Construction is now almost complete on the Union Pearson Express station at Terminal 1.
Train service is on track to start next spring, in time to serve visitors to the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
Eighteen new trains will run between Union Station and Toronto Pearson in just 25 minutes, every 15 minutes. Making it easier to get from the airport to the heart of Toronto’s downtown will help relieve gridlock, attract more visitors and build up the economy.
Improving transit and transportation is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
• In its first year alone, the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) is expected to take 1.2 million car trips off the road.
• The construction of the UP Express is creating and supporting more than 1,200 jobs.
• Toronto Pearson and Union Station are expected to serve 190 million travellers a year by 2031 – almost double the current annual traffic.
• Metrolinx has proposed an adult one-way fare between Union Station and Toronto Pearson of $19 with a PRESTO card or $27.50 without a PRESTO card, with discounts for seniors, students, families, children, qualified airport employees and people who board at the Bloor or Weston stations.
• Metrolinx’s Board of Directors will vote on the fares tomorrow.
• PRESTO is an electronic fare payment system available across 10 transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and Ottawa. It uses smart-card technology that stores funds in a secure account, replacing the need for tickets, tokens, passes or cash.
Getting to the airport from Burlington – what will it take in terms of time and what will it cost – and will it be worth it?
We will arrange for a test trip and a tour of the facilities and let you know if it is worth it – might be better to flip the oldest male heir $50 to drive you to the airport and hope he doesn’t trash the vehicle while you are away.
Good grief, a normal person couldn’t even think about taking this from Burlington. Work thru the logistics of catching a 7 AM flight out of Pearson. Keep in mind the airlines want you there at 5 AM.
I do 50 flight legs per year. This just isn’t going to be an option.
Then think about getting home after a trip armed with your luggage and laptop. Go for it. Enjoy.
Might work well for Torontonians living near downtown but as the previous writer explained, way over-priced.
The 1.2 million car trips will be mostly mad up of those already over-priced cab rides to and from downtown Toronto hotels. Wait for the taxi industry to scream foul. Wynne will need to compensate them financially to save the votes.
you save $$$ by not having too park
Not cost effective – for 1 yes – for shared rides – from Burlington a cap ride with tip is about 80 dollars – the train is neither time saving or cost effective – this would apply to people who are not headed to downtown Toronto – it is a nice idea however in Vancouver the system cost 6 dollars in Atlanta – costs 3 dollars – each system being intergrated to the local transit system – this system is not