Metrolinx Doubles Fare Evasion Fines on GO Transit in Canada, Hitting Travellers With $200 Penalties

Written By: Ankita Neogi Khan

Ankita Neogi Khan

With over 15 years of experience in digital media, I bring a strong foundation in language, journalism, and storytelling to travel reporting. A graduate in English (Honours) from Presidency College with a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta, I began my career as a content curator before transitioning into travel journalism. I specialise in aviation, tourism trends, destination news, and industry insights, combining meticulous research, accuracy, and compelling storytelling to deliver credible, engaging, and insightful content for a global audience.

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August 28, 2026 2:07 PM |

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Metrolinx increases fines for fare evasion on the GO Transit and UP Express services, beginning September 8, 2026. The first offense will be $200, next offenses will be $300, and after the fifth offense, the case will be referred to the provincial offenses system. Subsequent offenses can result in a court summons and a fine of up to $1,000 upon conviction. The fare evasion fine increases will impact commuters, as well as visitors to Toronto, whether they are tourists or international visitors, because of Toronto’s regional rail network. The fare evasion fine increase comes as GO Transit and UP Express results are combine to reach 71.8 million annual trips. For travelers using the UP Express, which connects the Toronto Pearson International Airport to Union Station in 25 minutes, the fare evasion fine increase is of particular concern.

Metrolinx Fare Evasion Fines Now Carry Steeper Costs

From September 8, passengers travelling without valid proof of payment will face a graduated penalty structure. The new system is designed to make repeated fare violations progressively more expensive.

The first offence will attract a $200 fine. The second will rise to $300, followed by $400 for a third offence and $500 for a fourth. The fifth offence will move into the provincial offence process.

At that stage, the penalty is no longer simply another fixed Metrolinx violation fee. A Provincial Offence Notice will apply, with the set fine established by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice.

For a sixth offence and subsequent violations, Metrolinx says passengers can receive a court summons. A conviction can carry a fine of up to $1,000.

The financial difference is substantial for repeat offenders. Four standard offences could total $1,400 before the fifth offence enters the provincial process.

Metrolinx has therefore shifted from a relatively simple enforcement model towards a clearer graduated deterrent. The policy also places greater importance on understanding the payment system before boarding.

Why This Matters for Travellers

The new fare evasion fines are not limited to traditional commuters. GO Transit serves a broad regional market that includes leisure travellers, business passengers, students and visitors.

UP Express adds another important tourism dimension. The service connects Pearson International Airport with downtown Toronto through Union Station. It takes approximately 25 minutes and also serves Bloor and Weston stations.

That makes correct fare payment particularly important for overseas visitors unfamiliar with Ontario’s transport system. A passenger rushing from an international arrival may assume that boarding follows a conventional airport rail ticket model.

GO and UP operate differently from many gated metro systems. Their fare model relies heavily on proof of payment and tap-based validation.

Passengers can use PRESTO, credit cards or Interac Debit cards. However, they must follow the correct tapping procedure for their journey. A small payment mistake can therefore create confusion during inspection.

For international travellers, the safest approach is simple. Check the fare process before boarding and keep the same payment method available throughout the journey.

GO Transit Has Become More Important

The tougher enforcement arrives as regional transit demand continues to recover and diversify.

Metrolinx reported 71.8 million GO Transit and UP Express journeys in 2024-25, representing a 21.6 per cent increase from the previous year. Leisure and tourism travel now form a significant part of that recovery.

Weekend and off-peak travel have become increasingly important. Metrolinx reported that leisure and tourism-based ridership accounted for 47 per cent of total ridership, 11 per cent above its pre-pandemic benchmark.

That trend changes the relevance of fare enforcement.

GO is no longer simply a commuter railway carrying workers into Toronto each morning. It increasingly functions as regional tourism infrastructure.

Travellers use the network for festivals, sporting events, shopping trips, cultural attractions and weekend escapes. The network also provides connections between communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Metrolinx reported 48 events supported through its regional transport strategy in 2024. Those events included major concerts, exhibitions and tourism attractions.

Consequently, fare information must be understandable to occasional passengers as well as regular users.

The Network Handles Millions of Journeys

The scale of the system helps explain why payment compliance matters operationally.

During fiscal 2024-25, GO rail recorded 48.7 million customers, while GO buses carried 18.8 million. UP Express recorded 4.2 million customers.

Metrolinx also operated more than 117,000 GO rail trips and over 56,000 UP Express trips during the year.

The numbers show why an efficient payment system is essential. Even small percentages of payment failures can affect large passenger volumes.

Metrolinx has simultaneously expanded digital payment options. Its 2024-25 annual report says mobile payments had surpassed 77 million taps.

The same report says One Fare enabled more than 38 million transfers and saved riders a combined $123 million during its first year.

That broader integration makes correct tapping more important, not less.

Tap Correctly Before Every Journey

Metrolinx is reminding passengers to tap at the start and end of their journey.

Travellers can use a PRESTO card, credit card or Interac Debit card. They should use the same payment card throughout the journey.

This rule also applies when passengers move between GO Transit and UP Express. It applies to transfers involving connecting transit agencies as well.

The reason extends beyond fare inspection. Correct tapping helps passengers receive eligible discounts under Ontario’s One Fare system.

Passengers transferring between GO trains at Union Station do not need to tap again. That exception can prevent unnecessary confusion.

Metrolinx has previously warned that using multiple cards can cause the wrong card to register. Passengers should therefore remove the intended card from wallets or cases before tapping.

Default Trips Need Extra Attention

Regular GO passengers can set a default trip on their PRESTO card. This feature can simplify frequent journeys.

However, it creates an important exception to the normal tap-off routine.

With a valid default trip, the passenger normally taps on but does not tap off. The full default-trip fare is charged according to the configured journey.

The situation changes when the passenger travels somewhere else.

A traveller heading to a different destination must use the device’s Mode function to override the default trip. The passenger then taps on and taps off normally.

This is particularly relevant to leisure travellers. A commuter may use one route every weekday but travel elsewhere during a weekend trip.

For that reason, visitors using someone else’s PRESTO advice or unfamiliar with the system should check the current settings before boarding.

E-Tickets Also Require Preparation

Passengers using GO or UP Express e-tickets should activate them before boarding.

Metrolinx says e-tickets become valid five minutes after activation. That creates a practical reason to avoid activating a ticket moments before boarding.

Travellers should also allow time to load funds onto PRESTO cards. This becomes particularly important at busy stations or before early airport departures.

The broader lesson is straightforward. Fare compliance starts before the train arrives.

Rushing onto a platform and attempting to resolve payment afterwards can create unnecessary problems. A few minutes of preparation can prevent a substantial financial penalty.

How The Policy Has Changed

The new structure represents a significant increase from Metrolinx’s earlier enforcement framework.

A 2022 Metrolinx board memorandum described a $100 fine for passengers found travelling without valid payment. It also noted that officers could issue educational notices for first-time offenders and minor non-compliance.

The 2026 system is materially tougher.

The first-offence amount has therefore doubled compared with the $100 figure documented in 2022.

The new structure also places much greater emphasis on repeat behaviour. The financial consequences rise steadily before the process moves towards court.

Ontario legislation gives GO Transit authority to establish by-laws governing passenger conduct and ticket conditions. Contraventions can constitute offences under those by-laws.

One Fare Makes Tapping More Valuable

The enforcement change arrives alongside a wider transformation in regional fare integration.

Ontario’s One Fare programme has reduced duplicate payments between participating transit systems. Metrolinx reported more than 38 million transfers during its first year. Riders collectively saved $123 million through the programme.

For travellers, that means tapping correctly can protect access to savings.

A passenger who uses the wrong card or fails to follow the required tap sequence may not receive the intended transfer treatment. Payment discipline therefore has both a compliance and financial dimension.

This is especially relevant for visitors combining airport travel with local transport.

A journey might involve UP Express, GO Transit and another participating regional service. Understanding the payment sequence can make that trip considerably smoother.

What International Visitors Should Know

Toronto’s regional transport network can appear straightforward. Yet its proof-of-payment model differs from many international airport rail systems.

Visitors should not assume that passing through a station without a physical ticket means payment happens automatically. They should also avoid boarding first and trying to resolve the fare later.

The safest approach is to identify the payment method before reaching the platform. Travellers should then confirm whether their journey requires a tap-off.

International passengers using contactless cards should also remember which physical card they used. Mobile wallets require similar consistency. A physical card and its mobile-wallet version should not be treated casually as interchangeable payment instruments.

The issue becomes more important when several people travel together. Each traveller using contactless payment needs an appropriate individual payment method.

Airport Travellers Face Little Margin

UP Express deserves particular attention because it carries airport passengers who often travel under time pressure.

The line connects Pearson Airport with Union Station in around 25 minutes. It provides a direct regional rail link into central Toronto.

The service handled 4.2 million customers in 2024-25. That gives it a significant role in Toronto’s visitor economy.

A missed payment can therefore become more than a minor commuter inconvenience. It can disrupt an airport transfer, especially for passengers unfamiliar with the local fare system.

Travellers should leave enough time to purchase or activate their fare before boarding. They should also retain the payment method used during the journey.

A Stronger Compliance Message

The September change sends a clear message to passengers. Metrolinx is moving towards a more graduated and consequential enforcement system.

That approach reflects the scale and changing purpose of the network. GO and UP now serve commuters, tourists, airport passengers and event audiences across a rapidly growing regional system.

The wider transport strategy also continues to emphasise higher service levels. Metrolinx increased weekly GO rail trips substantially during 2024-25. It reported 2,307 weekly rail trips across several corridors by April 2024.

As service expands, passenger payment systems must remain dependable and understandable.

For travellers, the practical message is simple. Pay before boarding, use the same payment method and follow the correct tap procedure.

That small routine becomes increasingly valuable when the cost of getting it wrong starts at $200.

September Changes The Cost Of A Mistake

New fines for GO Transit and UP Express fare evasion will go into effect on September 8, 2026. The first time you avoid paying will cost $200. Thereafter, the fine increases to $300, $400, and $500. Last chances to avoid going to provincial court and getting fined up to $1,000 are at the fourth and subsequent fare evasion violations.

Travellers are more interested in the measures that prevent fare evasion. Go Transit and UP Express are an important part of the infrastructure of Toronto’s airport and tourism and are used by over a million leisure travelers outside of traditional work hours.

To avoid getting a fine, travellers should prepare their fare and know when to tap out before they get on the system because prompt payment can prevent a costly oversight.

FAQs

1. When will Metrolinx increase fare evasion fines on GO Transit and UP Express?
Metrolinx will introduce the higher fare evasion fines from September 8, 2026.

2. How much will the first GO Transit fare evasion fine cost?
The first offence will cost $200. Each subsequent offence increases by another $100, reaching $500 for the fourth offence.

3. What happens after repeated fare evasion offences?
A fifth offence can result in a Provincial Offence Notice. Further offences can lead to a court summons, with fines of up to $1,000 upon conviction.

4. How can travellers avoid a fare evasion fine on GO Transit?
Travellers should tap on before boarding and tap off at the end of their journey, using the same PRESTO card, credit card or Interac Debit card where applicable.

5. Do UP Express and GO Transit passengers need to tap when transferring?
Yes. Travellers should follow the required tap procedure when transferring between GO Transit and UP Express. However, passengers transferring between connecting GO trains at Union Station do not need to tap again.