Toronto's Airport Metro: A Traveler's Dream Or Reality?

Toronto, Canada, is served by two airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Toronto has a comprehensive public transit system, managed by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), which includes subways, buses, and streetcars. The UP Express train provides a direct connection between Toronto Pearson Airport and Union Station in downtown Toronto, with trains departing every 15 to 20 minutes and the journey taking approximately 25 minutes. Flixbus USA also operates a bus service from Toronto Pearson Airport to Toronto, with tickets costing $4–30 and the journey taking around 30 minutes.

Toronto's Union-Pearson Express train

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's principal airport, with connections to every continent. It ranks among the top 30 world airports in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements. Getting from the airport to downtown Toronto is easy with the UP Express (Union-Pearson Express) train. This dedicated express rail service connects Union Station in downtown Toronto with Toronto Pearson Airport, departing every 15 minutes, seven days a week. The UP Express gets you downtown in just 25 minutes, with free on-board WiFi along the way. The adult one-way fare from Pearson to Union is $12.35, or $9.25 with a PRESTO card. Youth and post-secondary students save 40% off the standard adult fare when using PRESTO, and children under 12 years of age ride for free. Tickets can be purchased at the station from ticket vending machines or via the UP Express website.

The UP Express is the best way to get from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown without a car, and it is also the fastest and cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown by train. The train departs from Pearson Airport Terminal 1, with a free Terminal Link Train available to connect passengers from Terminal 3. The UP Express station at Union Station can be accessed via the west entrance of the Great Hall before 5:30 am on weekdays and Saturdays, 6:30 am on Sundays and holidays, and after 12:45 am daily. The station is located within the interior Skywalk walkway and offers amenities such as light refreshments.

Toronto's public transport system, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), is one of the finest in North America, with easy-to-navigate subways, buses, and streetcars. The PRESTO card is a reloadable payment card that allows users to pay their fare on the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express, and eight other transit agencies in Ontario. It eliminates the need for tickets, tokens, passes, and cash.

Toronto is also served by a second airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, located on Toronto Island. This airport is minutes from downtown and can be accessed by a short ferry ride or pedestrian tunnel.

Toronto's public transport system

Toronto has a well-developed public transport system, with a variety of options for getting around the city and to outlying areas. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the city's local transit agency and operates the third-largest system in North America. With easy-to-navigate subways, buses, and streetcars, getting around Toronto is efficient and straightforward.

Union Station, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, is Canada's largest and busiest multi-modal transit hub, connecting more than 300,000 passengers daily to their destinations. From here, GO Trains and buses, operated by GO Transit, provide inter-regional connections to outlying areas of the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. These services run at regular intervals throughout the day, making it convenient for commuters and travellers alike.

For those travelling to and from Toronto's airports, the UP Express (Union-Pearson Express) is a dedicated express rail service connecting Union Station to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's principal airport. The UP Express departs every 15 minutes and offers a 25-minute journey to and from the airport with free on-board WiFi. The fare for this service is up to $12.35, depending on the destination and type of pass. Alternatively, travellers can opt for a bus service, such as Flixbus, which operates between the airport and downtown Toronto every few hours.

In addition to its extensive rail and bus networks, Toronto also offers a range of other transportation options. The city has dedicated bicycle lanes on many major streets, encouraging environmentally-friendly travel. There are also numerous parking options, including public parking lots and on-street parking, with the Toronto Parking Authority providing convenient off-street and on-street parking throughout the city. Taxi services, including traditional cabs and ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft, are readily available as well.

Toronto's airport bus services

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's principal airport, with connections to every continent. While the city does not have a metro system to the airport, there are several bus services that operate to and from the airport.

Toronto Airport Express

The Toronto Airport Express offers a scheduled luxury motor coach service that runs between Lester B. Pearson Airport and downtown Toronto. The service operates 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, with departures every 30 minutes. The service is fully accessible and offers free on-board WiFi. In addition to the motor coach service, the Toronto Airport Express also provides an on-demand van service, the Airport Express Connect, which transports passengers to and from locations not served by the main Toronto Airport Express service.

Flixbus USA

Flixbus USA operates a bus service from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto, with departures every 3 hours. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes, and tickets cost between $4 and $30.

GO Transit

GO Transit provides bus and train services that connect Toronto with the surrounding areas, including Hamilton, Oakville, and North York. The GO buses depart from Toronto's Union Station and serve Pearson Airport and other locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Schedules, fares, and route information for the GO buses can be found online.

TTC

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is one of North America's finest transportation systems, offering easy-to-navigate subways, buses, and streetcars for getting around Toronto. The PRESTO card is a reloadable payment card that allows users to pay for fares on the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express, and other transit agencies in Ontario.

In addition to these bus services, taxi and ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are also available at Toronto Pearson Airport.

Downtown Toronto from the airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's principal airport, located about 17 miles from Downtown Toronto. There are several ways to get from the airport to downtown Toronto, including train, bus, taxi, limo, or ride-share services like Uber.

Train

The UP Express is a direct rail link between Toronto Pearson Airport and Union Station in downtown Toronto. The train ride takes about 25 minutes and costs between $1 and $12.35, depending on the type of pass and whether you're using a PRESTO card. The UP Express train has free on-board WiFi and ample space for large suitcases. Tickets can be purchased in advance or from ticket machines at the airport.

Bus

Flixbus USA operates a bus from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto, departing every two to three hours. The bus ride takes approximately 30 minutes and costs between $4 and $30. Tickets can be booked online.

Taxi or Ride-Share

A taxi or ride-share service like Uber is another option for getting from the airport to downtown Toronto. The average cost for an Uber ride is around CA$41, while a taxi will cost around $45-$60. The trip takes approximately 21-22 minutes. Limousine services are also available at the airport, with fares ranging from $53-$58, plus a fuel surcharge and tip.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

While there is no direct TTC subway connection to Pearson Airport, there are several TTC bus routes that serve the airport. The 192 Rocket express bus, available at Terminals 1 and 3, can take you to the Kipling subway station, where you can connect to Subway Line 2 into downtown Toronto. A cash fare for the bus costs $3.25, and you can purchase tickets from vending machines in the terminals.

Toronto's airport train services

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's principal airport, with connections to every continent. It is well-served by train services, with the UP Express providing a fast and effective link to the city of Toronto. The UP Express is an air-rail line that runs from Pearson Airport to Union Station in downtown Toronto in around 25 minutes. The train has free onboard Wi-Fi, charging points, live flight updates, folding tables, and baggage racks. It is accessible to all passengers.

The UP Express departs every 15 minutes, seven days a week, and tickets can be purchased online, via an app, or from automatic ticket machines at the UP Express Station. One-way fares from Pearson Airport to Union Station cost $12.35, or $9.25 with a PRESTO Card. The PRESTO Card is a reloadable payment card that offers discounted fares on the UP Express and other transit services in Ontario. It can be purchased online, from automatic payment devices at the station, or from a counter at Toronto Airport Terminal 1. With the PRESTO Card, fares from Pearson Airport to Weston Station are $4.71, and to Bloor Station are $5.02.

The UP Express connects to other transit services, providing easy access to the rest of the city. At Weston Station, passengers can connect with the GO Transit Kitchener Line. At Bloor Station, passengers can also access the Kitchener Line or opt for the Bloor Danforth Subway Line 2. Union Station, the terminus of the UP Express, is Toronto's major rail hub, providing connections to other train services and long-distance buses.

In addition to the UP Express, passengers can also take a bus from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto. Flixbus USA operates buses every three hours, with tickets costing $4-$30 and a journey time of 30 minutes. Red Arrow also services this route once daily.

Frequently asked questions