It began with a whir, not a whistle.

The Union Pearson Express shook off its training wheels Saturday as it revved into its first full day open to the public. But while the “Tier 4” diesel power is the latest in emissions-reducing technology, the joys of riding a train are timeless.

I boarded the train just after 10 a.m., carry-on bag in tow, after walking to the station from the Union Station subway platform.

Destination: Toronto Pearson International Airport.

It takes about five minutes to hustle from the subway to the gleaming platform, on the skywalk connecting the Via Rail departures area with the Rogers Centre. While waiting for the train, I nosed around the kiosks: coffee and treats at Balzacs, hip souvenirs at a mini Drake General Store and even draft beers at a Mill Street stand. A mini introduction to the tastes and habits of Torontonians.

Trains pulled into the station every 15 minutes, as advertised. About 50 people milled about on the platform, most of them suit-and-tie types there for the grand opening, which featured balloons and a cake shaped like the train.

At 10:10 a.m., a few travellers disembarked, and I hopped on. The train cars are so fresh, they have that brand-new car smell — the scent of luxury.

I took a comfy seat, spreading out into a row all my own. The car was only about a quarter full and there was plenty of storage for suitcases.

The only real hiccup arrived when I went to buy my round-trip ticket. Passengers can pay their fare on board with a credit card, for a $2 surcharge, but the machine had trouble printing my receipt.

The journey took the as-advertised 25 minutes, which flew by peacefully. The backyards and trainyards of Toronto are hardly worth writing about, but the free wi-fi was fast. It’s not a long enough trip to warrant much entertainment, anyway.

At Pearson, it’s very easy to get from the train to your flight. Either walk to Terminal 1, or take the free LINK train to terminal 3. But while the train is ready and willing to shuttle travellers, most of the passengers on board Saturday seemed to be riding the rails just for the novelty.

“The girls wanted to go on the train,” said Todd Somerville, family in tow. “We’ve been watching the Weston station getting built over the past few years.”

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At $27.50 each way for an adult fare (reduced to $19 with a Presto card), the ride may prove too rich for many Torontonians, especially those living far from one of the four stations. From my Queen West neighbourhood, it would take at least another half-hour to get to Union Station or Bloor. From Scarborough, the time savings become negligible.

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But for out-of-towners not familiar with the TTC, the train is a good bargain. Grant Matheson and his wife just flew in from Saskatoon, and with the senior discount, their trip cost just $23.40 each.

Normally, they would take a shuttle to their downtown hotel, for about $26 each.

“But there wasn’t one, so they said we had to take the train,” Matheson said.

Although a roundtrip cab wouldn’t cost much more than two tickets, Matheson said he prefers a train. “It’s a quick way downtown.”

When my colleague David Bateman travelled to Pearson just a few weeks ago, it took 35 minutes to drive from Union to Pearson at around noon, when traffic was light. If you’re catching a cab anytime near rush hour, it’s easy to see how the train could save lots of time, with a smoother ride.

My trip back to Union was as uneventful as the way there. Since I’d bought a return ticket, they simply swiped a barcode on board. As the train pulled backwards into Union Station, I caught a glimpse of the CN Tower. The UP Express had arrived.

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