At its meeting last Thursday, December 5, the Metrolinx Board of Directors approved raising GO Transit fares Saturday, February 1, 2014. By increasing fares, GO says it will be able to “continue to provide a high-level of customer service while improving and expanding service to meet increasing ridership demand.”

In advocating for higher fares, GO argues that fare increases have allowed it to implement services such as 30-minute train service on the Lakeshore line, more 12-car trains to relieve crowding and more bus trips on some of our busiest routes.

GO says that, in 2014, it plans more “enhancements and improvements”, including:

• more bus trips on some of the busiest routes;
• more train trips on some lines; and
• more 12-coach trains on some of the busiest routes to reduce overcrowding

In announcing the increase, GO explains that, since fares vary by how far passengers are traveling, the cost for single adult ride when using a paper ticket will increase incrementally. GO says this will make sure that the increase is equitable for passengers across the system.

For example:

• fares between $$4.85 and $6.15 increase by 35 cents;
• fares between $6.16 and $7.80 increase by 45 cents; and
• fares greater than $7.80 increase by 55 cents.

Fares between $4.85 and $6.15 apply, for example, to train trips from Union Station:

• along the 01 Lakeshore West line as far west as Port Credit GO Station;
• along the 09 Lakeshore East line as far east as Rouge Hill GO Station;
• along the 21 Milton line as far west as Cooksville GO Station;
• along the 31 Kitchener line as far northwest as Etobicoke North GO Station;
• along the entire 61 Richmond Hill line to Richmond Hill GO Station;
• along the 65 Barrie line as far north as Maple GO Station; and
• along the 71 Stouffville line as far northeast as Agincourt GO Station.

Fares between $6.16 and $7.80 apply, for example, to train trips from Union Station:

• along the 01 Lakeshore West line to Clarkson and Oakville GO Stations;
• along the 09 Lakeshore East line to Pickering and Ajax GO Stations;
• along the 21 Miltonline to Erindale, Streetsville and Meadowvale GO Stations;
• along the 31 Kitchener line to Malton, Bramalea and Brampton GO Stations;
• along the 65 Barrie line to King City and Aurora GO Stations; and
• along the 71 Stouffville line to Milliken, Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy GO Stations.

Fares greater than $7.80 apply, for example, to train trips from Union Station:

• along the 01 Lakeshore West line to Bronte GO Station and beyond;
• along the 09 Lakeshore East line to Whitby and Oshawa GO Stations;
• along the 21 Milton line to Lisgar and Milton GO Stations;
• along the 31 Kitchener line to Mount Pleasant GO Station and beyond;
• along the 65 Barrie line to Newmarket GO Station and beyond; and
• along the 71 Stouffville line to Stouffville and Lincolnville GO Stations.

Fares for students, seniors and children are also increasing.

The overall cost for each trip will be less for passengers — the majority of GO riders — who use PRESTO fare cards. Since GO wants to encourage more people to use the cards, it’s increasing the amount of the “loyalty discount” that it applies when you use the fare cards to ride GO buses and trains.

For adults, the discount increases to 10 percent off the single adult paper ticket fare (up from the current 8.75% off) for the first to 35th rides each month. For the 36th to 40th rides and for the 41st (and more) rides each month, the loyalty discount will remain the same.

For students, the discount increases to 17.25 percent off the single adult paper ticket fare (up from the current 16.25% off) for the first to 30th rides each month. For the 31st to 40th rides and for the 41st (and more) rides each month, the loyalty discount will remain the same.

For children and seniors, the discount increases to 51.50% off the single adult paper ticket fare (up from the current 50.75% off) for the first to 40th rides each month. For the 41st (and more) rides each month, the loyalty discount will remain the same.

You can use GO’s on-line fare calculator to figure what your new fare will be.