Quote:
Originally Posted by ssiguy
For both systems the devil is in the details, namely the fares. If both systems cost the same as the regular transit fares they will be a huge success but if they start charging commuter rail fees then their impact will be very limited. One only has to look at Toronto's UPX to see how lower fares can actually result in higher revenues.
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I have no idea how things are transpiring on this front in Montreal, but in Toronto, the answer to the question depends on the ongoing 'fare integration' studies led by the province. It's a bit of a mess because the province has to find a fare system that doesn't punish people for crossing municipal boundaries by transit while preventing transit agencies from losing revenue. That said, most early indications out of Metrolinx are that the intention is for GO RER fares to be "comparable" to rapid transit fares over similar distances.
Personally, I think that offering free (or close to free) transfers between GO RER and TTC buses should be the main objective, and if that can only happen by continuing to charge a premium for GO, then so be it. (Ideally, we'd get both, but money...)