Union Pearson Express
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Union to
Pearson

 

The Route

Connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport with Union Station in downtown Toronto in a relaxing 25 minutes, the Union Pearson Express is set to simplify how Canada’s busiest airport is linked to its largest city. With only two brief stops at the Bloor and Weston GO Stations, the Union Pearson Express will be the swiftest and most reliable way to travel when the service takes to the rails in 2015.

Stations

The Union Pearson Express will serve four key stations: Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson, Union Station in downtown Toronto, and the Bloor and Weston GO Stations. At Bloor, Weston and Union, travellers can connect to other regional destinations easily and quickly. The stations are being designed to create a relaxing atmosphere with convenient amenities to serve guests during their brief wait for the next train. Find out more...

New Line

The Union Pearson Express will connect directly to Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson. A new rail connection will branch off from the GO Kitchener Rail Corridor and travel three kilometres to the airport. The new connecting line, or “spur,” is currently under construction by AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. and is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2014. Find out more...

 

The Facts

25-minute ride

The Service

It will take just 25 minutes for the Union Pearson Express to travel the 25 km journey between Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport, making just two brief stops en route. The Union Pearson Express will be the most reliable and relaxing way to travel between Canada’s two busiest transportation hubs.

Every 15 minutes

The Schedule

The Union Pearson Express will run every 15 minutes. For the thousands of passengers who will take the shuttle every day, that means less waiting and more time enjoying the ride. Onboard, all guests will be able to enjoy Wi-Fi, flight information screens and easy ticketing options including using PRESTO for payment, as well as the comfort of the well-appointed and welcoming interior.

2015 Investing in Ontario

Investing in Ontario

The Union Pearson Express will help boost economic growth across the region - creating jobs, easing traffic congestion, and be a critical enabler of economic growth for businesses in communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). In 2015, the region will welcome 41 countries when it hosts the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, and the Union Pearson Express will be ready on budget and on time. Greeting athletes from across the Americas, the service will signal that Toronto is open and ready for business as a world-class city.

1.2M Solutions

Solutions

Each year, more than five million people make the journey between downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson. The Union Pearson Express is expected to remove 1.2 million car trips from our roads in its first year of operation alone. Switching from road to rail will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is good news for Toronto’s economic and environmental prosperity in the long run.

 

The Key Dates

 
2015
Summer
  • Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
Spring
  • The Union Pearson Express will grace the cityscape and be fully operational in time for Toronto to host 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
Winter
  • Construction will be complete for all stations.
 
2014
Summer
  • The Union Pearson Express’s elevated three-kilometre rail connection to Toronto Pearson will be complete, as will the new lounge at Terminal 1.
Winter
  • The first Union Pearson Express vehicle is scheduled to arrive in Toronto.
 
2013
Summer
  • Construction will begin on the new Union Pearson Express station at Union Station.
Spring
  • Construction will begin on the new Union Pearson Express station at Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1.
 
2012
Spring
  • Construction begins on the Union Pearson Express rail spur to connect guests directly to Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson.
 
2011
December
  • AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. was awarded the contract for the construction of the new Union Pearson Express connecting line “spur” between the GO Kitchener corridor and Toronto Pearson Terminal 1.
July
  • The Union Pearson Express team takes shape, with Kathy Haley joining as the inaugural president.
  • Construction for the Union Pearson Express begins on the Kitchener corridor (formerly Georgetown corridor).
February
  • An air-rail service for Toronto comes closer to reality as Metrolinx purchases Tier 4 diesel multiple units from Sumitomo Corporation of America.
 
2010
July
  • Metrolinx proudly agrees to build, own and operate an air-rail service for the Government of Ontario in time for Toronto to host the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
 

THE FAQs

What is the Union Pearson Express?

The Union Pearson Express is an express rail service connecting Canada’s busiest transportation hubs, Union Station in downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Construction is already well underway, and once completed in 2015, our guests will enjoy convenient, reliable and rapid service in a relaxing stress-free atmosphere.

When can I ride the Union Pearson Express?

The Union Pearson Express will be ready to carry our first guests in the spring of 2015 – in time for Toronto to host the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

Will I be able to use my PRESTO card on the Union Pearson Express?

We want to make travel easy for our guests, so the Union Pearson Express will use a wide array of ticket purchase options including PRESTO.

Why does Toronto need a train between the airport and downtown?

The Union Pearson Express will address a significant gap in airport-to-downtown travel in Toronto. Each year an estimated five million cars travel between downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson. With this number expected to grow to nine million by 2020, the Union Pearson Express is expected to remove 1.2 million car trips in its first year of operation, while offering a critical transit alternative for quick and easy access to Toronto’s downtown core and Toronto Pearson.

How long will the trip between Union Station and Toronto Pearson be on the Union Pearson Express?

Each one-way trip on the Union Pearson Express will take approximately 25 minutes. With shuttles departing every 15 minutes, the Union Pearson Express will be the fastest and most reliable means to Toronto Pearson.

Where will the Union Pearson Express stop?

In addition to Union Station and Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson, the Union Pearson Express will make two additional stops at key transit connector points, Bloor and Weston GO Stations.

How much will a trip on the Union Pearson Express cost?

As it’s still three years from launch, the fare for the Union Pearson Express has not yet been set. The service, however, will be priced competitively and offer value to its guests.

Who operates the Union Pearson Express?

The Union Pearson Express is a division of Metrolinx, the Province’s regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Who is supplying the vehicles for the Union Pearson Express?

Vehicles for the Union Pearson Express have been purchased from the Sumitomo Corporation of America. Currently being manufactured, the first vehicle is expected to arrive in early 2014.

What type of vehicles will the Union Pearson Express use?

The Union Pearson Express will use new technology with Tier 4 diesel units. Tier 4 technology reduces airborne particulate emissions by 90 percent and nitrogen oxides by 80 percent compared to the existing engines used in the corridor, and can be converted to electric propulsion should the route become electrified.

Welcoming the World

Toronto is eagerly anticipating the Union Pearson Express. Hear how community leaders are ready to roll out a new welcome to greet the world.

Getting from Union to Pearson

Travelling between downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport is about to become a whole lot easier. Imagine rising above traffic while experiencing speed and reliability, all stress-free.

Greetings from our President

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to our website, and invite you to get to know more about an exciting new service that will elevate the way Torontonians experience our city – and the way the world experiences Toronto.