Some Thoughts on New Pearson Express
Jun 18, 2015 | 8:52 am
#62
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I live at Bay and Yorkville, which is hardly "far from downtown". But it makes no sense at all for me to consider taking the UPX, particularly given that I always have luggage to check, and I frequently take early morning flights.
The UPX is only of value to a tiny subset of YYZ passengers, and it's disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
Jun 19, 2015 | 10:35 am
#63
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And who is staying within a short walking distance of Union station, in good weather.
I live at Bay and Yorkville, which is hardly "far from downtown". But it makes no sense at all for me to consider taking the UPX, particularly given that I always have luggage to check, and I frequently take early morning flights.
The UPX is only of value to a tiny subset of YYZ passengers, and it's disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
I live at Bay and Yorkville, which is hardly "far from downtown". But it makes no sense at all for me to consider taking the UPX, particularly given that I always have luggage to check, and I frequently take early morning flights.
The UPX is only of value to a tiny subset of YYZ passengers, and it's disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
i do actually live downtown. a 7 minute walk to the UPX platform.
Jun 19, 2015 | 6:10 pm
#64
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Why would I subject myself to all that, when I can just get a limo from my apartment building to YYZ? The same applies to anyone with luggage to check, who does not live very close to an accessible subway station.
Jun 20, 2015 | 6:52 am
#65
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Neither time nor money, but convenience. Even if the subway is running at the time I need to leave, Bay station has no elevator. I'd have to lug my 50lb suitcase and carry ons down a long flight of steps, then change at Yonge or St George to get to Union, then change again for the UPX.
Why would I subject myself to all that, when I can just get a limo from my apartment building to YYZ? The same applies to anyone with luggage to check, who does not live very close to an accessible subway station.
Why would I subject myself to all that, when I can just get a limo from my apartment building to YYZ? The same applies to anyone with luggage to check, who does not live very close to an accessible subway station.
Walking to the Jays game last night I walked by just before 7, in fact, my watch said 6:58 and sure as shhit, sign said train departs in 2 minutes. So as long as they stick to their timing, you can cut things pretty close.
Jun 20, 2015 | 11:29 am
#66
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Neither time nor money, but convenience. Even if the subway is running at the time I need to leave, Bay station has no elevator. I'd have to lug my 50lb suitcase and carry ons down a long flight of steps, then change at Yonge or St George to get to Union, then change again for the UPX.
Jun 21, 2015 | 6:59 am
#67
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Jun 22, 2015 | 4:39 pm
#71
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No I never have tried because a booklet of fare savers from the 7-11 on the ground floor is significantly cheaper even though I only visit YVR once every few years. It pays for itself (based on 1 zone timing) after 2 trips. Either way we can all agree that even the worst scenario of the skytrain in yvr is better than the best of the UP.
Jun 22, 2015 | 8:20 pm
#72
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Three people took three different routes to the airport one morning: car, UPX and TTC. The longest and most expensive route was UPX!
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015...etter-way.html
Granted, leaving from Riverdale does put UPX at a disadvantage. A fairer test would have been to leave from the core, which is the target market for this service.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015...etter-way.html
Granted, leaving from Riverdale does put UPX at a disadvantage. A fairer test would have been to leave from the core, which is the target market for this service.
As I noted above, it would take me about 20-minutes to walk to Union Station (taking a King streetcar would take just as long with the wait) then 15 minutes to get to the UPX platform and wait for the next train. 25-minutes on the train for a total an hour. Then another 5-minutes if I was going to T3.
The UPX would cost me $12 more than the $2 TTC fare (Presto/seniors) and a bit of a sweat walking -- though good exercise.
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As for the Dundas West transfer, it doesn't really doesn't make much sense. The transfer is almost a half kilometer between stations and as yet there's not protected, direct walkway. But more to the point, anyone using the Bloor/Danforth subway line either coming or going is best to go right to Kipling (another 10-15 minutes) and catch the 192 Airport Express. The hassle of the transfer is hardly worth the extra $10++ for the UPX.
Last edited by Shareholder; Jun 22, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Jun 25, 2015 | 6:13 am
#73
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Union Pearson Express hits ridership targets but can be tough to find, survey of riders finds | Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tran...ers-finds.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/tran...ers-finds.html
Toronto's new airport train is hitting its ridership and approval targets. But nearly half the riders say finding the stations isn't as easy as the journey between Pearson and Union.
"Our feedback is really good but we're getting some good, practical advice about wayfinding, " said Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins.
The provincial agency's own survey of about 3,000 riders found only 58 per cent of Union Pearson Express (UPX) customers said that it was easy to find the terminus stations at the airport or downtown, according to a report before the Metrolinx board on Thursday.
Among those surveyed in person and online, 78 per cent said they were very satisfied with the experience. Eighty-seven per cent said they were likely to recommend the UPX to others.
Finding the train is challenging at the airport because Greater Toronto Airports Authority signage is interpreted by some people as pointing to the Pearson Terminal Link people mover, said Aikins.
At Union Station, construction is making signage an issue, she said.
"When you have temporary walls, where do you put the sign today and where do you put the sign next week? We don't want to put signs on walls that next week aren't there," she said.
As of Friday, the $456-million UPX was averaging about 3,250 riders a day. A year after opening, Metrolinx is expecting the train will attract 5,000 riders a day — about 1 million customers.
By 2020, Metrolinx expects 2.46 million rides will bring it up to full operating cost recovery.
In the first week of operating, there were 15 UPX trips that were more than five minutes late, including one delayed 30 minutes due to a track switch issue.
The 25-minute train trips run every 15 minutes in both directions. But Aikins said they are subject to some of the same rail operational issues experienced on the rest of the GO system.
"Our feedback is really good but we're getting some good, practical advice about wayfinding, " said Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins.
The provincial agency's own survey of about 3,000 riders found only 58 per cent of Union Pearson Express (UPX) customers said that it was easy to find the terminus stations at the airport or downtown, according to a report before the Metrolinx board on Thursday.
Among those surveyed in person and online, 78 per cent said they were very satisfied with the experience. Eighty-seven per cent said they were likely to recommend the UPX to others.
Finding the train is challenging at the airport because Greater Toronto Airports Authority signage is interpreted by some people as pointing to the Pearson Terminal Link people mover, said Aikins.
At Union Station, construction is making signage an issue, she said.
"When you have temporary walls, where do you put the sign today and where do you put the sign next week? We don't want to put signs on walls that next week aren't there," she said.
As of Friday, the $456-million UPX was averaging about 3,250 riders a day. A year after opening, Metrolinx is expecting the train will attract 5,000 riders a day — about 1 million customers.
By 2020, Metrolinx expects 2.46 million rides will bring it up to full operating cost recovery.
In the first week of operating, there were 15 UPX trips that were more than five minutes late, including one delayed 30 minutes due to a track switch issue.
The 25-minute train trips run every 15 minutes in both directions. But Aikins said they are subject to some of the same rail operational issues experienced on the rest of the GO system.
Jun 26, 2015 | 1:05 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2014
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That sounds about right. I sauntered down today to check it out and there's zero signage on York street or in the York teamway, even when you're standing directly below the Skywalk (which is where the terminal is located). You have to follow the signs for Goodlife fitness and then walk up some secret stairs, or take the elevator which does actually have a small sign above it indicating that the second floor has the UP Express. There is signage at the front door of Union station but once you're inside the signage is very spotty. Most people don't know that the "up express" is actually the train to Pearson so they wandering around looking lost.
That being said, I'll be using it in a couple of weeks for real as it's super convenient for me. Our office is at York and King and during rush hour it's often faster to walk south to Union than the time it takes for a cab to get on to the (congested) Gardiner Expressway.
That being said, I'll be using it in a couple of weeks for real as it's super convenient for me. Our office is at York and King and during rush hour it's often faster to walk south to Union than the time it takes for a cab to get on to the (congested) Gardiner Expressway.
Jun 27, 2015 | 12:46 pm
#75
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I had a real struggle to find it at the airport last week. It was my first time and I found the signage really poor. And I wasn't the only person wandering around trying to find it!! In the end I had to ask someone for help!! No such problem at Union when I was coming back as it was easy to trace my footsteps from when I arrived (and I think the signage is better at Union).