After many years of waiting Toronto finally has a rail line linking Pearson International Airport to the city centre. The newly opened line only just started this summer in time for the recent Pan Am Games hosted in Toronto.

Since opening the line has caused huge controversy. Despite having frequent trains running every 15 mins tickets can be an exorbitant $30 one way from the airport to the city centre. A TTC bus from Kipling Subway can do the same trip for only $3 with a cash fare.

The line uses the Brampton-Kitchener GO Train line and branches off just after the Etobicoke North station. It also uses two of the GO train stations, Bloor, and Weston from the Brampton line. So to save on the train ticket you can join at one of the later stops rather than joining from the start at Union Station downtown. These stations and the track have also been reconfigured to accommodate the more frequent airport trains.

Conveniently Bloor Station is also on the Bloor Subway line a short walk from Dundas West Subway station. Fares from Bloor Stn to the airport is $22 one way, or $15 with a top up Presto card which the regional transit systems are slowly migrating to.

Bloor GO station is not only the first stop of the Brampton-Kitchener GO train line, but also a transit line for the Mississauga-Milton GO train line which passes thru on the outside track heading to Kipling as its first stop.

The airport train times are quite frequent, every 15 mins. Despite being an older diesel type carriage, it was actually quite nice, quiet, and spacious inside. The train wasnt too full and it was easy to find a seat even though its only two carriages. A French Bilingual inspector will also come thru to check tickets or scan presto cards.

As it was rush hour the Brampton GO train was running alongside us for a period packed full like sardines. Our ride was actually quite relaxing and we were quickly at the airport in only about 15 mins.

Despite all the controversy about the pricing, it actually was a nice quiet, relaxing, comfortable, and easy ride directly into the airport terminal. If you only use it a couple of times a year and have a Presto card its actually worthwhile.

Mostly there were solo or business travelers on the train. The pricing of $30 one way without a Presto card is not conducive to families or tourists that dont have the presto card. Otherwise I would certainly use it again for my next trip, but only one way heading into the airport as the return route is not convenient for me to get home.

If they added another carriage and took 1/3 off the price they could run trains at capacity and turn a profit integrating the line into the city transit system.