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The last Friday before Christmas is the busiest travel day of the year. Officials at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport estimate about 127,000 people will pass through its terminals today — but despite the extra traffic, the Union Pearson Express isn’t seeing any of the extra action.

The train, which entered service in June, has been plagued by low ridership and criticism over the high cost of fares. To encourage riders over the holidays, Metrolinx has launched a “buy one get one” ticket promotion, running November through January.

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“Strong incentives will help to get new customers to use the service, and the guest experience and speed will encourage those to try to commit to a new habit,” Metrolinx spokesperson Kim Johnson said in an email Friday.

But on Friday, there was little evidence those incentives were paying off. Fewer than two dozen people were riding the train each way on the afternoon of Pearson’s busiest day of the year, with some train cars completely empty.