02-17-2016, 01:32 PM
(02-17-2016, 08:50 AM)tomh009 Wrote:(02-17-2016, 08:29 AM)Viewfromthe42 Wrote: Two very different customers. Those who do not live in Toronto and are staying at hotels/visiting businesses near Union, and those who live in Toronto. If you live in Toronto, unless you live near Union, UPX will never be the most convenient way to get to the airport, because you must first get to Union. If you don't need to pay the cost, because employer covers it, I'd think you'd almost always choose a taxi. But if you're the businessperson from outside Toronto, what are the odds that you'll see Presto vs cash fare and shake your head long enough to choose a taxi instead?
My point was that I don't do that. And I have many colleagues who would similarly choose a train over taxi (not just cost but also traffic).
Cash fares are always more expensive, everywhere. It's why I have an Oyster card for London and a Suica for Tokyo. But even at today's fares (which are too high, I do agree with that) the cash fare is still substantially less than a taxi fare to downtown. Taxifarefinder.com estimates the taxi fare at about $70, depending on traffic.
I would recommend going down to $20 cash one-way, $35 cash return, or $15 Presto one-way. I think that would substantially increase ridership -- and increase revenues in spite of the lower fares.
Totally agree. Even when expensed, taxis are not always the best solution. Trains can be better because of predictability.
I do know someone in Toronto who lives in Roncesvalles near Weston and UPX actually works well for him.