GO Transit fares

GO Transit is the inter-regional transportation authority of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It is Canada's oldest regional transit system, first serving passengers in 1967.

Fare zones

The service area of GO Transit is divided into a number of fare zones, each of which belonging to a number of fare corridors. Fares on GO Transit are based on the distance between originating and destination fare zones. Tickets between two fare zones are valid for travel between the two fare zones stated on the ticket, as well as between any two fare zones that lie between them on the same fare corridor. Tickets are not generally issued between two fare zones on different corridors, with the following notable exceptions:

  • Due to all-day GO train service and the interlining of the Lakeshore West line and the Lakeshore East line, tickets may be issued for trips starting in a fare zone on one line and ending in a fare zone on the other. Similarly, due to the number of GO bus connections between stations on the Lakeshore West line and the Milton line (including Square One Bus Terminal, but excluding Lisgar GO station), tickets may be issued for trips starting in a fare zone in Mississauga or Milton outside of the Lakeshore West line and fare zones on either of the Lakeshore lines.
  • Tickets are generally issued for trips between a fare zone inside the City of Toronto and a fare zone outside the City of Toronto, even if they lie in different fare corridors; such tickets are valid between the fare zone outside the City of Toronto to any fare zone inside the City of Toronto for which the ticket value is equal or less. (For example, a ticket from Square One Bus Terminal to Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal would also be valid for trips to Kennedy GO Station, as the trips are of equal value, even though all three locations are on different fare corridors.) Note that Milliken GO Station, despite physically located within the City of Toronto, is considered to be in a fare zone outside of the City of Toronto for historical reasons.

As all GO Transit tickets are only valid for continuous trips of no more than two and a half hours, multiple tickets may be needed for longer trips.

List of fare zones

Fare zones 1–9, 19, 77, 89, and 90 (shaded in green) are located within the City of Toronto.

No.NameStopsCorridor
1Toronto Coach TerminalNo longer used by GO Transit
2TorontoUnion Station
Union Station Bus Terminal
Exhibition GO Station
Bloor GO Station		(all corridors except Highway 407)
3Etobicoke SouthMimico GO Station
Long Branch GO Station
Kipling GO Station		Lakeshore West line
Milton line
Niagara Falls
4Metro NorthwestWeston GO Station
Etobicoke North GO Station
Humber College		Milton line
Kitchener line
Bolton
5Metro NorthOriole GO Station
Old Cummer GO Station
Yorkdale Bus Terminal
York Mills Bus Terminal
Finch Bus Terminal
Sheppard-Yonge subway station		Kitchener line
Beaverton (via Newmarket)
Richmond Hill line
Barrie line
Lakeshore East line
Bolton
6Scarborough SouthDanforth GO Station
Scarborough GO Station
Eglinton GO Station		Beaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
7Scarborough CentreAgincourt GO Station
Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal		Beaverton (via Whitby)
Stouffville line
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
8GuildwoodGuildwood GO StationBeaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
9Rouge HillRouge Hill GO StationBeaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
11Port Credit—CooksvillePort Credit GO Station
Dixie GO Station
Cooksville GO Station		Lakeshore West line
Milton line
Niagara Falls
12Clarkson—ErindaleClarkson GO Station
Erindale GO Station		Lakeshore West line
Milton line
Niagara Falls
13OakvilleOakville GO Station
Sheridan College		Lakeshore West line
Highway 407
Niagara Falls
14BronteBronte GO Station
Bronte Carpool Lot		Lakeshore West line
Highway 407
Niagara Falls
15ApplebyAppleby GO StationLakeshore West line
Niagara Falls
16BurlingtonBurlington GO Station
Burlington Carpool Lot		Lakeshore West line
Highway 407
Niagara Falls
17AldershotAldershot GO StationLakeshore West line
18HamiltonHamilton GO Centre
McMaster University Bus Terminal
West Harbour GO Station		Lakeshore West line
Highway 407
19York UniversityYork University GO Station
York University Bus Loop		Beaverton (via Newmarket)
Barrie line
Highway 407
20Square OneSquare One Bus TerminalMilton line
Highway 407
21StreetsvilleStreetsville GO StationMilton line
22MeadowvaleMeadowvale GO Station
Meadowvale Town Centre
Meadowvale Business Park
Hurontario at 407 GO Park & Ride		Milton line
Highway 407
23LisgarLisgar GO StationMilton line
24MiltonMilton GO Station
Milton GO Park & Ride		Milton line
26CambridgeSmartCentres iXpress StationMilton line
27KitchenerKitchener railway station
Charles St. Transit Terminal
Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier iXpress Station)
University of Waterloo (UW Davis iXpress Station)		Kitchener line
Milton line
28PontypoolClarington North GO Park & RidePeterborough
29MillbrookCavan/Millbrook GO Park & RidePeterborough
30PeterboroughPeterborough Transit Terminal
Trent University
Peterborough GO Park & Ride		Peterborough
31MaltonMalton GO Station
Toronto Pearson International Airport		Kitchener line
Orangeville
32BramaleaBramalea GO Station
Bramalea City Centre Terminal
Trinity Common Bus Terminal		Kitchener line
Orangeville
Highway 407
33BramptonBrampton GO Station
Brampton Bus Terminal
Shoppers World Terminal		Kitchener line
Orangeville
34Mount PleasantMount Pleasant GO StationKitchener line
35GeorgetownGeorgetown GO StationKitchener line
36SilvercreekKitchener line
37ActonActon GO StationKitchener line
38RockwoodKitchener line
39GuelphGuelph Central GO Station
Guelph Bus Terminal
University of Guelph
Aberfoyle GO Park and Ride		Kitchener line
Highway 407
41VictoriaOrangeville
42CaledonOrangeville
43OrangevilleOrangeville Mall
Orangeville GO Park & Ride		Orangeville
44East GwillimburyEast Gwillimbury GO StationBeaverton (via Newmarket)
Barrie line
45QueensvilleBeaverton (via Newmarket)
46KeswickBeaverton (via Newmarket)
47Island GroveBeaverton (via Newmarket)
48SuttonBeaverton (via Newmarket)
49VirginiaBeaverton (via Newmarket)
51Brooklin—MyrtleBeaverton (via Whitby)
Highway 407
52Port PerryBeaverton (via Whitby)
53SaintfieldBeaverton (via Whitby)
54SunderlandBeaverton (via Whitby)
55BeavertonBeaverton (via Newmarket)
Beaverton (via Whitby)
56KleinburgBolton
57NobletonBolton
58BoltonBolton
60LangstaffLangstaff GO Station
Richmond Hill Centre Terminal		Beaverton (via Newmarket)
Richmond Hill line
Barrie line
Highway 407
61Richmond Hill—Maple—RutherfordRutherford GO Station
Maple GO Station
Richmond Hill GO Station
Wonderland Terminal
Major Mackenzie at Highway 400 Carpool Lot		Beaverton (via Newmarket)
Richmond Hill line
Barrie line
62Oak Ridges—KingKing City GO StationBeaverton (via Newmarket)
Barrie line
63AuroraAurora GO Station
Aurora Carpool Lot		Beaverton (via Newmarket)
Barrie line
64NewmarketNewmarket GO Station
Newmarket Bus Terminal
Highway 9 at 400 Carpool Lot		Barrie line
65BradfordBradford GO StationBarrie line
66DeerhurstBarrie line
67ChurchillBarrie line
68Barrie South—StroudBarrie South GO StationBarrie line
69BarrieAllandale Waterfront GO Station
Barrie Bus Terminal		Barrie line
70MillikenMilliken GO StationStouffville line
71UnionvilleUnionville GO StationStouffville line
Highway 407
72Markham—CentennialCentennial GO Station
Markham GO Station		Stouffville line
Highway 407
73Mount Joy—WidemanMount Joy GO StationStouffville line
Highway 407
74Stouffville—LincolnvilleStouffville GO Station
Lincolnville GO Station		Stouffville line
75GoodwoodStouffville line
76UxbridgeStouffville line
77KennedyKennedy GO StationStouffville line
80Stoney CreekStoney Creek GO Park & RideNiagara Falls
81GrimsbyGrimsby GO Park & RideNiagara Falls
82LincolnNiagara Falls
83St. CatharinesSt. Catharines railway station
Fairview Mall		Niagara Falls
84Niagara FallsNiagara Falls railway station
Niagara Falls Transit Terminal		Niagara Falls
86BroughamHighway 407
87GreenwoodHighway 407
88Durham CollegeDurham College
University of Ontario Institute of Technology		Lakeshore East line
Highway 407
89MalvernCentennial College
University of Toronto Scarborough		Highway 407
90North RougeLakeshore East line
91PickeringPickering GO StationBeaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Highway 407
Peterborough
92AjaxAjax GO Station
Ajax Bus Terminal		Beaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
93WhitbyWhitby GO StationBeaverton (via Whitby)
Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
94OshawaOshawa GO Station
Oshawa Bus Terminal		Lakeshore East line
Peterborough
95CourticeLakeshore East line
96BowmanvilleBowmanville GO Park & RideLakeshore East line
97NewcastleNewcastle Carpool LotLakeshore East line
Peterborough

Fare classes

GO Transit offers four passenger fare classes: adult, senior, child, and student. Senior fares are available for passengers over the age of 65, while child fares are available for passengers between the ages of 6 and 12. Passengers between the ages of 1 and 5 ride free with an accompanying adult, but each adult may only ride with one child for free in this manner; any unaccompanied child must pay child fares. Passengers under the age of 1 always ride free on GO Transit.

Student fares are only available for those with acceptable student identification:

  • For elementary and secondary school students, school-issued student identification is needed. Note that these do not necessarily need to be identification issued by a school within GO Transit's service area.
  • Full-time students of post-secondary institutions anywhere in Canada (not necessarily within GO Transit's service area) for which student identification is reissued each year may use their school-issued student identification for proof of student fare qualification.
  • Students at Durham College, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and Trent University's Oshawa Campus require their school-issued student identification for proof of student fare qualification.
  • Students at Centennial College, Humber College, Michener Institute, Mohawk College, Niagara University, Sheridan College, and Trent University's Peterborough campus require a sticker to be affixed to their school-issued student identification for proof of student fare qualification.
  • Students at McMaster University holding a Hamilton Street Railway U-Pass require their school-issued student identification for proof of student fare qualification.
  • All other post-secondary students require the GO Transit student ID. It is valid for full-time students from October of one year to October of the next year, as long as the student retains full-time status. GO Transit student ID application forms may be obtained from the registrar's office of their institutions. These must be processed at GO Transit's offices at Union Station before they may be used as proof of student fare qualification. Students at Seneca College, Ryerson University, York University, University of Waterloo, and the University of Guelph may also obtain GO Transit student identification online, while students at the University of Toronto's St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses may obtain their GO Transit student identification on campus.

Fare types

Up until July 31, 2012, GO Transit offered five types of fares:

  • Single-Ride Tickets are for one single journey between two fare zones. These expire four hours after purchase, and are not refundable.
  • Two-Ride Tickets are for two single journeys between two fare zones. These do not expire, but are not refundable.
  • Day Passes are for unlimited journeys between two fare zones from 3AM one day to 3AM the next. These are not refundable.
  • Ten-Ride Tickets are for 10 single journeys between two fare zones. These do not expire, and unused portions may be refunded 30 days after purchase.
  • Monthly Passes are for unlimited journeys between two fare zones for one calendar month. They are available for purchase 10 days before the month to 14 days into the month, and must be signed by its user for it to be valid. These may be refundable.

GO Transit stopped selling two-ride and ten-ride tickets on June 1, 2012 and stopped accepting two-ride and ten-ride tickets on July 31, 2012, in favour of using Presto Cards exclusively; paper monthly passes have been discontinued since 1 January 2013;[1] day passes remain available for purchase. Passengers may convert any unused rides on their tickets to equivalent value on a Presto Card before the end of 2012.

There is no distinction between bus and train service, with the exception of the seasonal train service to Niagara Falls: passengers paying single-ride tickets and travelling by train to Niagara Falls are assessed a $3 surcharge on top of existing fares.

Fares between two fare zones for a particular type of ticket and passenger category are based on multiples of the standard (adult single-ride) fare as follows:

Fare multiples for ticket users
AdultSenior/ChildStudent
Single-Ride10.5-
Day Pass21-
Monthly Pass342028

Fares are rounded to the nearest $0.05 for single-ride fares and day passes and $1.00 for monthly passes, after fare multiples are applied. The minimum adult single-ride fare (for travel on GO Transit within one fare zone) is always $4.50; other fares depend on the fare zones travelled.

Presto card

PRESTO card reader at Oshawa station

The Presto card is also accepted on GO Transit. Passengers using the Presto Card must tap their cards against the reader upon embarking and disembarking the train or bus. Upon embarking, the minimum fare ($5.30) is always deducted from the card, with fare adjustments performed as the passenger disembarks.

Failure to tap the card upon disembarking ("missed tap-off") will cause the maximum fare to be deducted, under the assumption that the passenger travelled to the point furthest away from the origin point. (For example, passengers failing to tap off when boarding at Union Station will be assessed the fare travelling from Union Station to Kitchener GO Station, the point furthest away on any GO train route serving Union Station.) Passengers regularly travel by GO train may also set a "default trip" between two GO train stations, allowing them to avoid tapping their cards upon disembarking; passengers doing so will have the appropriate fare deducted upon embarking at either endpoint.

Adult and student passengers using the Presto card receive a further fare discount, depending on the number of trips that have been made per month between two fare zones.

Fare multiples for Presto Card users
AdultStudentChild/Senior
First 30 trips0.88850.8160.4735
Trips 31–350.88850.050.4735
Trips 36–400.12250.050.4735
Each trip thereafterFreeFreeFree

If there are rides between different sets of fare zones, the discounts after the 30th trip (students) and 35th trip (adults) will be based on the total value of rides taken so far; the fare discounts are structured so that adult and student passengers pay less over the course of a month compared to paying for a paper monthly pass ahead of time; the discrepancy is to encourage passengers to adopt the Presto card over the paper monthly pass.

Fare integration

GO Transit offers fare integration services with local transit providers, as well as with Via Rail.

Via Rail integration

Via Rail offers interline tickets with GO Transit, where passengers may travel on GO Transit trains and connect with Via Rail trains at any GO station also offering Via Rail services (Aldershot GO Station, Brampton GO Station, Georgetown GO Station, Guelph Central GO Station, Guildwood GO Station, Kitchener GO Station, Niagara Falls railway station (Ontario), Oakville GO Station, Oshawa GO Station, St. Catharines railway station, and Union Station) or vice versa on one ticket; the Via Rail ticket acts as a GO transit proof of payment on the GO transit leg. Via Rail interline tickets are not valid for GO buses when trains are not running.

Via Rail also offers the GO-Via Pak, which allows holders of GO Transit monthly passes (between applicable fare zones) to ride to Union Station from any GO Station also served by Via Rail trains (or vice versa) using Via Rail trains. The GO-Via Pak is priced at the difference between 10 adult single fares and the equivalent 10 adult economy fares on Via Rail. The GO-Via Pak is not offered for the seasonal trains serving St. Catharines railway station and Niagara Falls railway station (Ontario), or offered for trips originating at Guelph Central GO Station and Kitchener GO Station, due to Via Rail's own existing commuter pass options (note that Via Rail also offers commuter passes to Georgetown and Oshawa GO Stations, though they cannot be combined with GO Transit monthly passes in any event). The GO-Via Pak cannot be used with the Presto Card.

Local transit integration

Fare integration services may exist between GO Transit and local transit providers, where customers may ride GO buses within local service areas using appropriate local proof-of-payment (tickets and/or passes) at no additional cost; GO Transit will also issue a transfer for further travel on local transit providers upon request. Passengers paying by cash or travelling outside the local service area must pay GO transit fares. Passengers using Presto Card will be assessed GO transit fares, although plans are in place for local fares to be assessed instead of GO transit fares whenever they are lower.

  • Durham Region Transit - Though in the past, all GO bus routes serving Durham Region were integrated with DRT, since the launch of DRT Pulse only the routes not covered by DRT Pulse are integrated. This includes Route 71, 81, 88, 90, and 91, the latter two only between Newcastle and Downtown Oshawa.
  • York Region Transit - No routes currently are integrated with YRT, though GO Transit had operated routes both on behalf of YRT and as a complement to YRT service in the past, before its eventual replacement with YRT routes. The last such route to have been integrated was Route 69 Sutton, which was replaced by YRT Route 50 Queensville.

GO Transit co-fares

Local transit systems may offer reduced local fares, known as "co-fares", when making a connection between a local route and a GO train or bus at certain locations. In all cases, passengers must present GO Transit proof-of-payment (a monthly pass or an uncancelled ticket for passengers connecting to GO transit, or a monthly pass or a recently cancelled ticket for passengers connecting from GO Transit) to the local transit operator.

Passengers using the Presto Card will automatically be assessed the co-fare where appropriate, depending on the status of the local transit operator's integration with the Presto Card. If the local transit operator does not currently accept the Presto Card, the co-fare cannot be used with the Presto Card.

Transit AgencyPresto CardCo-FareCo-Fare Monthly PassNotes
Barrie TransitNoFreeNoValid to/from Barrie South GO Station or Allandale Waterfront GO Station.
  • Despite Barrie Transit having not adopted the Presto Card on its buses, the co-fare is also accepted for Presto Card holders.
Brampton Transit
(includes Züm)		Yes80 centsNoValid to/from any GO train station in Brampton (Brampton, Bramalea, Mount Pleasant), Lisgar GO Station and Malton GO Station in Mississauga, and Brampton Bus Terminal.
  • Also valid for GO buses connecting to/from Brampton Transit services when using the Presto Card.
  • Co-fares are only accepted for single-ride tickets when connecting from GO Transit to BT services. A full BT fare is required when connecting to GO Transit from BT on a GO Transit single-ride ticket.
Burlington TransitYes70 centsNoValid to/from any GO train station in Burlington (Aldershot, Appleby, or Burlington).
  • Also valid for GO buses connecting to/from Burlington Transit services when using the Presto Card.
Durham Region Transit
(including DRT Pulse)		Yes75 centsNoValid to/from any GO Station in Durham Region (Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, or Whitby) or Rouge Hill GO Station in Toronto.
  • Also valid for GO buses connecting to/from DRT services when using the Presto Card.
  • Co-fares are only accepted for single-ride tickets when connecting from GO Transit to DRT services. A full DRT fare is required when connecting to GO Transit from DRT on a GO Transit single-ride ticket.
  • Due to fare integration, DRT co-fares are not accepted on GO buses, and may not be used to connect between GO trains and GO buses; GO Transit fares will be assessed.
Grand River Transit
(including iXpress and GRT MobilityPLUS)		No50 centsNoValid to/from Kitchener GO Station.
Guelph TransitNo65 centsNoValid to/from Guelph Central GO Station and University of Guelph.
  • Co-fares are only accepted for single-ride tickets when connecting from GO Transit to Guelph Transit services. A full Guelph Transit fare is required when connected to GO Transit from Guelph Transit on a GO Transit single-ride ticket.
Milton TransitNo70 cents$8Valid to/from Milton GO Station.
MiWayYes80 centsNoCo-fares only offered for Presto Card holders.
Oakville TransitYes75 centsNoValid to/from any GO train station in Oakville (Bronte and Oakville), as well as Clarkson GO Station in Mississauga.
  • Also valid for GO buses connecting to/from Oakville Transit services when using the Presto Card.
Region of Peel TransHelpNo50 centsNoValid to/from Brampton GO Station.
York Region Transit
(includes Viva and Toronto Transit Commission routes serving York Region)		Yes75 centsNoValid to/from any GO train station in York Region (Aurora, Centennial, East Gwillimbury, King City, Langstaff, Lincolnville, Maple, Markham, Mount Joy, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Rutherford, Stouffville, and Unionville), Milliken and York University GO Stations in Toronto, or Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.
  • Co-fares are only accepted for single-ride tickets when connecting from GO Transit to YRT services. A full YRT fare is required when connecting to GO Transit from YRT on a GO Transit single-ride ticket.
  • Enterprise Vivastation is considered part of Unionville GO Station for the purposes of transferring between GO Transit services and Viva Purple and Viva Green.
  • As the TTC does not currently implement the Presto Card on its buses, the Presto Card cannot be used with co-fares when connecting with TTC routes 102D Markham Road North (serving Mount Joy GO Station), 107B Dufferin North (serving Rutherford GO Station), 107D Keele North (serving Maple GO station), or 129A McCowan North (serving Centennial GO Station).
  • Though TTC Routes serving or terminating at Steeles Avenue may briefly enter York Region upon switching from outbound to inbound service, these are not services operated by the TTC on behalf of YRT; and thus co-fares are not offered. There are presently no TTC routes that serve both York Region and serve either of the GO Stations in Toronto where the YRT co-fare is offered.
  • The TTC Times Two program is not valid when connecting to a TTC bus in York Region, even if connecting to a destination in Toronto.
  • Co-Fare monthly passes are issued by the local transit agency, and allows for unlimited co-fare rides in a calendar month. Passengers not connecting to GO Transit services must pay the full local transit fare. Currently, co-fares are not counted towards any local transit agency's Presto card loyalty programs.

Other local transit integration

Other fare options are offered between GO Transit and local operators:

  • Hamilton Street Railway - Passengers using the Presto Card but without a HSR monthly pass loaded onto the card are entitled to a $1.60 discount when connecting to GO Transit from HSR and a $0.55 discount connecting to HSR from GO Transit.
  • Toronto Transit Commission - The TTC offers a program called "TTC Times Two", where TTC users may board a second TTC bus using a transfer from the first TTC leg if there is a GO Transit trip in between. Note that GO Transit proof of payment is not needed for this program. In addition, passengers connecting to TTC Route 38 (servicing University of Toronto's Scarborough campus) from Rouge Hill GO Station may travel for free with GO Transit proof of payment.
    • TTC Times Two is not offered for GO/TTC connections outside the City of Toronto, due to the fact that TTC operates routes on behalf of local transit agencies (MiWay and York Region Transit) when operating outside the City of Toronto.
  • As of January 7, 2018, Presto card holders who transfer from the GO Transit to the TTC (and vice versa) can save up to $1.50 on their fares as part of a new co-fare discount agreement. It is not offered for customers who use cash, paper tickets, tokens, a Metropass or a monthly pass on Presto.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Kalinowski, Tess (15 October 2012). "GO Transit cancels monthly pass". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
  2. ↑ https://www.prestocard.ca/en/about/discounted-double-fare
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