Pearson airport employees will be able to ride the new $456-million Union Pearson Express train at a discounted fare as part of a freshly negotiated agreement between the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Metrolinx, the Toronto Star has learned.

The GTAA has further agreed to drop a $1.85 surcharge that was to be incorporated in every UP Express ticket, in part to compensate the airport for parking revenue it expects to lose when people start using the train rather than driving to Pearson.

The size of the discount remains unclear, as are the fares generally. Metrolinx is expected to announce the train’s fares at its Dec. 11 board meeting and they’re believed to be about $29, minus the $1.85 airport allocation.

Airport workers have complained about that being too expensive for commuters. On Wednesday a Metrolinx official would only say the agency is in talks with the GTAA — “Those are pretty positive so we are hopeful that we will find a positive resolution that works for everyone,” said Anne Marie Aikins.

The provincial transportation agency that will run the train has long insisted the service is intended for travellers, not for the approximately 40,000 Pearson workers. It has, however, said that there will be a variety of concession fares for seniors, families and children.

The fares will also be distance-based so riders who board at Weston or Bloor stations would pay less than those who ride all the way from Union Station.

The deal between Metrolinx and the GTAA is expected to be OK’d at the GTAA’s board meeting on Wednesday, which is not open to the public. The UP Express is expected to start running in the spring and carry 5,000 people a day between Union and Pearson in under half an hour.

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