Union Pearson Express

operational

Opportunity More than five million people travel between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the downtown core annually, a number that is expected to double in the next decade. In order to increase public transportation options, reduce car trips and greenhouse gas emissions, and provide faster travel between the airport and downtown, the Government of Ontario decided to build a new rail link between Canada’s two busiest transportation hubs—Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport— in advance of the TO2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games. Challenges Initial ridership was lower than projected. Innovations For the first time express rail service is available between Toronto’s downtown core and Pearson Airport. AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. was required to finance the design and construction of the project until completion, shifting significant financial risk to the private sector in the case of late completion. Results The 25-kilometre Air Rail Link (ARL) provides express, frequent, shuttle-like service, departing Union Station and Toronto Pearson every 15 minute,s 19.5 hours per day, ensuring travellers have access to quicker, easier and more reliable transportation. The three-kilometre rail line extension to the ARL branches off from Weston Subdivision (GO Kitchener corridor), connecting to Toronto Pearson with a new station at Terminal 1. The self-propelled passenger rail vehicles are powered by small, efficient diesel engines. These state-of-the Tier 4 diesel vehicles are subject to the strictest non-road engine emissions standards possible as established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Tier 4 technology reduces airborne particulate emissions by 90 per cent. Since it opened in June 2015, the UP Express has experienced a 97 per cent on-time performance rating, with 87 per cent of guests willing to recommend the service. The UP express is publicly owned and publicly controlled. Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario, sets fares for the UP Express. On March 9, 2016 new, lower fares were introduced in order to make the service more accessible and increase ridership.

High