12-12-2014, 10:57 AM
(12-12-2014, 10:49 AM)ookpik Wrote: One reason why UP fares are so "unfair" is because this is a dedicated line. Imagine if the Kitchener to Union GO train stopped at Pearson. Shared use would would allow for costs to be spread over a wider base.
While UP trains have many "premium" features why do most passengers need them? Wouldn't a GO train, perhaps modified to make luggage handling easier, be good enough? Many jurisdictions use conventional subway or rail coaches to service their airports. That works well and fares are thus kept reasonable for all passengers.
Also consider that if more than one person is travelling to the airport from Union a cab/limo is likely to be the same or lower cost than multiple UP fares.
Sometimes it's normal service to the airport (SFO is another example of that, for instance) but often there are also special lines to the airport even when there is also normal service. Heathrow has the tube and also the Heathrow Express (at a premium); Narita has the Skyliner and Airport Express. Even Montreal has special buses which usually run on the airport line.
I'm not seeing that they're thinking about "all passengers" here in building the UP.