FAQs
Have questions about UP? We have answers! Find some of our most commonly asked questions here.FAQs
Have questions about UP? We have answers! Find some of our most commonly asked questions here.Trip Planning
Union Station: UP Express is conveniently located on the Skywalk at Union Station. You can reach the Skywalk by leaving the Great Hall and walking towards the CN Tower.
Toronto Pearson International Airport: UP Express is located at Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport next to the Terminal Link Train. The Link provides transfers free of charge between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
Bloor and Weston Stations: UP Express platforms are located within Bloor and Weston GO stations.
UP Express parking is available at Weston Station only and is free of charge. For all UP Express stations, please consider alternative access modes including transit, passenger pickup and drop-off, walking and cycling.
Please note: parking is not permitted between 2am – 5am daily and overnight parking is not permitted. Please be aware that due to high demand from GO Transit commuters, this lot is often full.
Guests can access GO Transit and TTC subways, buses and streetcars from Union, Bloor and Weston stations. Please note that an UP Express ticket is not valid on TTC or GO services, nor are TTC and GO Transit tickets and transfers valid on UP Express. Valid fare must be paid when connecting to or from TTC or GO Transit.
Right now, you need to use a PRESTO card to get fare discounts on TTC. Please remember to tap off on an UP Express Fare Payment device before transferring to GO or TTC.
PRESTO contactless payment, using credit cards or debit cards including in a mobile wallet on a phone or watch, is also available for travel on GO Transit and some other participating transit agencies that accept PRESTO. Find out where you can tap with credit and debit cards.
Looking for connections in Toronto? Triplinx is the official trip planner and one-stop transportation information resource for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
Learn more about TTC routes and fares.
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) official trip planner, Triplinx, is also available to help plan your trip. Triplinx provides all the information you need to plan your transit trip and explore the wide network of transit services available across the region. You can use Triplinx to find schedules, fares, services and other information to help make travelling around the region easier. Triplinx is fully accessible and provides accessible trip itineraries and information on paratransit services offered across the GTHA. Triplinx is available on its own website and can be accessed using mobile devices.
Customer Service
In the event of a service delay greater than 45 minutes, guests may be eligible for compensation up to and/or equal to the fare paid. Guests must contact UP Express within 30 days of their trip. For more information, please see the UP Express Terms & Conditions or contact the UP Express Contact Centre.
Please note that GO Transit Service Guarantee does not apply to UP Express.
While UP Express is dedicated to ensuring our guests arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport in 25 minutes, unforeseen circumstances could cause a delay. To allow plenty of time for check-in procedures, baggage drop-off and security checks, always arrive at Toronto Pearson well in advance of your flight. Please read the Toronto Pearson Departure Guidelines for more information.
Please note: UP Express is not responsible for any costs associated with missed flights at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
For more information, please see UP Express Terms & Conditions
For refund requests, please get in touch with UP Express Contact Centre at 1-844-GET-ON-UP. Please see the Terms and Conditions for refund eligibility.
For refunds of PRESTO fares paid with contactless credit cards, debit cards, or mobile wallets, please call the PRESTO Contact Centre or UP Express Contact Centre at 1-844-GET-ON-UP. It may take up to 48 hours for your bank to process some credit card, debit card or mobile wallet payment transactions, so when applying for a refund, it is recommended to wait 48 hours from the time of travel.
If you have lost an item, please visit the Lost & Found page or contact us at 1-844-GET-ON-UP and we will assist you.
Please note: UP Express is not responsible for lost or stolen property.
Rules & Regulations
Our policy allows leashed dogs on our trains during certain hours.
A maximum of two leashed dogs can travel with you when you board on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. until the end of service, and all day on weekends and holidays. Outside of these hours, dogs are welcome on board but must be in a pet carrier that can fit on your lap or under your seat.
To make your journey with us as smooth as possible, please follow these rules for travelling with your leashed dog:
- Be sure to pick up after your dog, but do not dispose of their waste on trains.
- Be considerate to others and keep your dog out of the way and off the seats.
- Always ensure your dog is secured properly with a leash capable of maintaining control of your dog.
- Always keep your dog with you for its safety and the safety of others.
- Ensure your dog does not disrupt the enjoyment of other passengers.
- All other pets must always be in a carrier while on board.
We haven't made any changes to our service animal policy. Service animals are welcome on board with their owners all day, every day. We encourage customers to travel with documentation supporting their needs in the event it is requested.
UP Express welcomes guests to bring luggage on board meeting the following criteria like airline baggage standards:
- Does not exceed 158cm in overall dimensions (length + height + depth)
- May not exceed 23-32kg (50-70lbs)
- Larger baggage items (sporting equipment, packaged bicycles, etc.) are to be placed in oversized baggage storage areas where space permits
UP Express cannot guarantee baggage guidelines are aligned with your airline. Please visit your airline for specific details regarding baggage restrictions.
Our Bicycle policy onboard has recently changed. Only bicycles that can be folded or stored in an aircraft-ready bicycle box are permitted onboard UP Express.
Our Station Ambassadors will be happy to show you where these need to be placed on board.
Fare checks are performed at Union and Pearson stations all day. We ask our guests to have their proof of payment ready. E-tickets, PRESTO and card fares must be active prior to boarding the train.
Tickets can be purchased quickly and easily at the ticket vending machines or online at upexpress.com.
Please allow yourself a few extra minutes to board the train.
No. Smoking of any kind is not permitted on UP Express.
Payment & PRESTO
The UP Express website is the best source for quick and easy delivery of UP Express tickets.
If you are unable to purchase online, tickets can also be purchased at the following locations:
- UP Express Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs)
- UP Express Service counters
- All GO Transit station service counters
You can also pay for your UP Express fare by tapping your PRESTO card or a contactless credit card or debit card on an UP Express PRESTO fare payment device before boarding the train. Remember to tap off with the same PRESTO card, credit card or debit card when you reach your final stop and before leaving the station.
Learn more about UP Express fare types and prices.
If you require additional assistance in selecting the appropriate fare for your trip, please contact us at 1-844-GET-ON-UP.
UP Express now uses an honour-based proof of fare payment system. Before you board an UP Express train, you must buy a ticket or tap your PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet on a phone or watch. Fare inspections are conducted across the UP Express system, and there is zero tolerance for fare evasion. Anyone unable to provide a valid ticket and identification (if requested) upon inspection will be issued a fine.
You won’t be able to see your fare on the PRESTO device when you tap your PRESTO contactless payment method. If you’ve tapped your credit or debit card to travel, later in the day you can check your transaction history on the PRESTO App or through the PRESTO website; or check your credit card statement or bank account to see how much you were charged for the fare. If you use a debit card, you can check your transaction history later in the day on the PRESTO App or through the PRESTO website. If you’ve tapped with a debit card in a mobile wallet on a phone or watch, your transaction history is not available on the PRESTO website or app. You can check your bank account to see your charges.
Yes, when travelling on UP Express you can now tap and pay for your Adult PRESTO fare using your credit card, debit card, or add them to a mobile wallet on a phone or watch. Tap on using an UP Express PRESTO Fare Payment device at the start of each journey, and depending on your Transit Agency, the end, and intermediate points. Please remember to always tap on and off (as required) using the same credit card, debit card, or card on your phone or watch.
At this time, only Adult PRESTO fares are available when using contactless.
Travellers must use a separate PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with a credit card, debit card, phone or watch to tap on and off for their trip. Or you can also purchase UP tickets online, and at the vending machines at UP Express stations.
When you tap your debit card to pay your fare on an UP Express PRESTO device, a temporary pre-authorization will be placed on your card. The amount will be the fare to the furthest stop from where you tapped on, even if your actual fare is less. Your bank will hold this pre-authorization until PRESTO calculates your fare for the trip and charges your bank account. Charges should appear the next day. Transaction fees associated with your bank account may also apply – please check with your bank.
When using PRESTO contactless, on your credit card statement, your charges will be listed as “PRESTO” followed by the type of charge (such as: fare, inspection, unpaid fare) and a series of letters/numbers. In your bank account for your debit card, your charges will be listed as “PRES” followed by a series of letters/numbers.
- Examples for credit: PRESTO FARE/A1B2C3D4E5, PRESTO UNPD/A1B2C3D4E5, PRESTO INSP/A1B2C3D4E5.
- Examples for debit: PRES/A1B2C3D4E5
If you forget to tap off with PRESTO, at the end of the day your card will be charged the maximum standard fare from the station where you initially tapped on to the end of the line. To avoid paying a higher fare, make sure you always tap off at the end of your trip with the same PRESTO card or contactless payment method you used to tap on.
There are several convenient ways you can check balance and/or load funds to your PRESTO card:
- Instantly through the PRESTO App on an NFC-enabled device.
- Online through the PRESTO website
- Through Shoppers Drug Mart, other in-person Customer Service Outlets, and Ticket Vending Machines at Bloor, Weston or Pearson UP Express stations, you must load at least $0.05. For more information on loading a PRESTO card if travelling with GO Transit and/or TTC, go to the PRESTO website.
- By visiting the Service Counter (only available at Pearson Station).
When you register your contactless credit card or debit card and add it to your PRESTO Account, you can see more of your PRESTO transaction history for the card, and you can receive notifications related to your contactless card through the PRESTO App. You’ll also be able to get notifications in the PRESTO App to help manage your trips and PRESTO contactless payments. You can also sign in to the PRESTO App or website with your email address and password instead of your credit or debit card number. If you’ve used a credit or debit card at least once to take transit, you can add it to your PRESTO Account and see more of your transaction history. Anonymous users can see a week’s worth of transaction history, but you can see more if you create a PRESTO account. If you’ve tapped with a debit card in a mobile wallet on a phone or watch, please check your bank account to see your charges. It’s not available on the PRESTO website or app.
Fines
Yes, UP Express conducts fare inspections on every trip. Anyone unable to provide valid proof of payment upon inspection will be issued a fine. When using PRESTO, your PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet on your phone or watch is your proof of payment.
Youth ages 13-19 years old must have a valid Canadian school-issued or government-issued ID, and Post-Secondary students must have a valid GO Transit Student ID when travelling on UP and qualify for the 40% PRESTO student discounted fares.
Youths and Post-Secondary students must present valid proof of payment and identification upon inspection to avoid a fine.
If you were issued a Notice of Violation, you have 15 days to either pay the fine or dispute it. Click here to learn more about your options for dealing with a Notice of Violation.
E-tickets purchased online expire one (1) year from the date issued unless otherwise indicated.
The following fare types are subject to different expiry dates:
- Paper tickets purchased from an UP Express TVM, or UP Express service counter expire (60) minutes after purchase.
- UP Express tickets purchased along with a GO Transit ticket expire sixty (60) minutes after arrival at an UP Express Station (Must retain GO Transit ticket as proof of origin departure time).
- While guests using PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet on a phone or watch are not issued a physical ticket, they have sixty (60) minutes to complete their trip after it has been tapped ON an UP Fare Payment device.
All UP Express vouchers are printed with a valid expiry date and will not be accepted after the expiry date has passed.
Accessibility
Support persons and animals are welcome to travel on UP Express at no charge and will be issued a Courtesy Ticket at the Service counter at the station or at the time of inspection on board the train. Support persons must remain with the full fare ticket holder during travel. Full fare ticket applies to fares made by tapping a PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with a credit card, debit card or mobile wallet on a PRESTO fare payment device or with a ticket purchased from a TVM or online.
Support animals are welcome to travel with UP Express as long as they are on a leash.
If you plan on travelling with UP Express and require assistance at an UP Express station, please call UP Express Contact Centre at 1-844-GET-ON-UP in advance of your trip so suitable arrangements can be made.
If you require assistance at Toronto Pearson International Airport, please visit their website to find out how you can make arrangements.
Discounts
Yes! UP Express is cost-efficient for the entire family, whether heading downtown or out of town.
Children 12 and under travel for free, always. Youth, Post-Secondary students, and Senior discounts are all available using a PRESTO card. Once you’ve purchased your PRESTO card, you can set your Youth, Post-Secondary students and Senior concession at an UP station or your local Shoppers Drug Mart.
If you are travelling on one of the discounts listed above, please ensure they have a Canadian school-issued ID, GO Transit Student ID, or a government-issued ID handy for fare inspection.
Groups of 50 or more people, or organizations with regular travel needs can apply for group or corporate rates.
Veterans and retired and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as a companion, can ride UP for free on Remembrance Day and for Warriors’ Day Parade.
We honour our military heroes and thank them for their service to our country by continuing this long-standing tradition.