Bojaxs
Senior Member
If you're really bothered by people using the UPX as a commuter service, then we could just run the trains express between Union & Pearson. Better option than jacking up the price for people not going to Pearson.
WB62
Senior Member
Tell that to VIA and the wraps they used to hold the LRC coaches together
nfitz
Superstar
Jacking the price (i.e. restoring it to the original levels) still allows people to use the other stations if they have to. Personally I usually go from Dundas West/Bloor to Pearson. But I've seen long line-ups at Union on other occasions.
It's not a commuter service. The same way that VIA Rail is not a commuter service. Getting people to the airport on-time is paramount.
bearcat
Active Member
It's not meant to be a commuter service, but it is because Kitchener GO is not every 15.minutes yet. I hope that's coming soon.
nfitz
Superstar
It is, because the pricing change they made because ridership was too low, was too aggressive.
It simply doesn't have the capacity to be a commuter train.
junctionist
Senior Member
It's better to have packed trains in my opinion than half-empty trains to check off a box, e.g. having an airport train. Even neoliberals who think that transit has to turn a profit or at least come close (despite not applying the same rationale to roads) can't deny the need for transit expansion when the trains are at capacity.
Bojaxs
Senior Member
Such a ridiculous proposal.
"We're going to jack up ticket prices in order to discourage you from using this train. You're suppose to be on the GO train!"
Again, if you're so bothered by people using the UPX for commuting purposes, than run the trains express between Union & Pearson. You're 100% guaranteed to discourage commuters from using the UPX.
nfitz
Superstar
It's better, and paramount, to have an airport train with capacity for airport passengers. Having standees is not a good idea, given their tendency to block doors, and those boarding having luggage.
An airport train is not a box. It's the only reason that this train exists. Besides, if the old pricing was too high, and the new pricing is too low - there's likely an easy choice that can be put in place to get the commuters off the train that is not meant for them.
No reason to be rude here - making sure that those going to the airport can use the airport train is ridiculous? Not only is it not ridiculous it is paramount. As I said, serving the airport is the ONLY reason the train exists.
Exactly
You said this earlier. I pointed out that this screws the riders heading to the airport from Bloor. You had no response to that.
Better to screw the commuters that we don't want on the UP who have other options, than those using the Airport Train to go to the Airport!
Bojaxs
Senior Member
A couple weeks ago, I rode the Elisabeth line in London to Terminal 2 at Heathrow. The train was difficult to board and was standing room only. It was crowded due to all the passengers with their luggage.
I pretty much expect this with any train that goes to & from an airport. It's not just Toronto, it's the norm around the world.
nfitz
Superstar
You took a subway-like train that IS designed for commuter services.
You didn't take an airport train in London that isn't designed for commuter services. I'd make exactly the same comment about London if the Heathrow Express was leaving people behind.
Why not compare the airport train in London to the airport train in Toronto? I wouldn't complain if Line 5 is crowded (though that seems unlikely given how much service they are providing, despite the low ridership projection).
T3G
Senior Member
Again, until the GO train is made a viable alternative to the UP Express, pricing commuters out of the UP Express would just be spiteful. The people using it aren't doing it to screw the airport goers.
Bojaxs
Senior Member
You can't compared the Heathrow Express to UPX because the HE runs EXPRESS to Heathrow from Paddington. Do you want to run the UPX in a similar fashion between Union and Pearson??? You seem to be against such a proposal based off of your "angry face" emoji response to my earlier post.
nfitz
Superstar
I don't know how prioritizing those that need to use the service, and those for who the service was built, would be spiteful. There is hourly service on the Bramalea trains - which is as much as those on even the Lakeshore line had until relatively recently. I'm not sure how running Lakeshore only hourly for almost a half-century was okay, but simply pricing (rather than banning) to make sure the most primary purpose is served.
Having a couple of intermediary stops between Union and Pearson makes one express train not comparable to the other that will have one station between Paddington and Heathrow Central station? Two if you are travelling to the biggest terminal (Heathrow Terminal 5 station).
I've said twice above that I don't want the Union Pearson Express train to skip Bloor - I feel you aren't reading my posts if you asking questions like that. Skip Weston - fine; it already has a direct bus to Pearson.
I don't know why you'd want to prioritize those commuters who are woke enough to think that it's an injustice that they don't special treatment!
bearcat
Active Member
Is there actual non-anecdotal data to show that there are people travelling to and from the airport that can't get on a train because of commuters?
In the dozen or so times I've taken the UP Express to and from the airport this has never been an issue. Of course that's anecdotal evidence.
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