simply put: GO charges by distance so you need to tap on and tap off so it can calculate how far you've travelled. TTC charges a flat fare of $3.30 so you only need to tap when you get on.
Those are some real good tips on how to use PRESTO including the part where you tap the card and proceed. However, I was born in America also known as the United States. Here in America, my transit is the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). I use my metrocard to scan and proceed to take transports including buses.
Got the point of Tap ON and Tap OFF. But if I buy the e-ticket from GO website(eg. Union > Niagara Falls). Do I need to do tap ON/OFF? What is the procedure?
You only need to to on and off on GO transit if you use a card (Presto, debit, credit, smartwatch, smartphone) to pay for your fare. If you buy your ticket online then there's nothing you need to tap on. Just show your ticket to the fare inspector if there is one. Hope that helps!
Could someone explain to me why I got charged for 3.42 ish from Clarkson and off to Union Station for 3.42 ish as well? I would assume the second time would charge more because that’s where the system know how far I am off to 🤔
such a broken system....one of the worst public transit experiences in a so called developed city.... Thanks for simplifying a lot of this process...Metrolinx themselves didn't make it as easy as this
Thanks! Honestly, I also expected a bit more. That being said, the transportation system is still better than in many countries, so plus and minuses. But it is awfully expensive!
Thank you so much, this is a great video. I have a question in regard to transfer. I recalled you mentioned there's a 2 hour window for transfer in the video, but that was only within the TTC. I understand that GO transit also have free transfer to the TTC and vice versa is it not? If so, do I still tap my card as you have suggester and it will automatically know of the transfer? For instance, if I take the GO, then I need to transfer to the TTC in order to get to my destination, I don't have to do anything extra other than tapping my card like I normally do. Thanks in advance.
Yes the 2-hr transfer is only for the TTC. There is a fare discount when transferring between TTC and GO, but it’s not a free transfer. I haven’t figured out how much the discount is though. Right, when you transfer from GO to ttc, you need yo tap on the TTC vehicle/gate and it will automatically calculate the applicable fare. Don’t forget that you still need to tap off GO though!
@@LivinginCanada There is no fare discount when transferring from GO to TTC (It used to exist but no longer there). But there are free transfers from GO to YRT, DRT, Brampton Transit, MiWay etc and vice-versa. You just need to tap the Presto card and the system won't charge you anything.
I'm originally from Hong Kong, and this transportation system thing is not new to me. But the whole tap-on/off thing is SUPER CONFUSING. I wish they make it simple. Still a little confused going to Toronto this March.
If you leave the subway through the gates and get on a bus in the same station, then you still need to tap on. It will not deduct you anything however, as long as you're still within the free 2-hour transfer window.
for transferring busses, do you tap for every single bus that you get on but only get deducted the fare the first time. (as long as you are within the 2hr limit)
Yes that's right, you need to tap on everytime but only get charged once within the 2 hr transfer window! And only on the TTC buses, subway, trains. (If you get on a GO bus you'd need to pay another fare!)
@@LivinginCanada but what if I just forgot to tap off on GO bus and my bus just went off.. and now I just find another bus & I do tp off on some other bus.. will that just close my journey. I don't have to tap off on the same bus, do I? 😂 Just a thought, I have never been to Toronto, so just asking
@@leespidey Presto will have a transfer already on your card for the next GO Bus. It will realise you didn't tap off the first bus, but did tap on the second bus when you boarded. It will just update the account, no funds removed since you are on a 2 hour transfer. Note: Transferring from GO Train to GO Bus, if you forget to tap off the GO Train, your Presto card will lock up and prevent you from boarding the bus. You will be forced to go back to the station to tap off at the Presto Portal, then return to the bus to tap on. Also, Toronto Streetcars (Trolleys) require you to tap on and tap off because they are classed as a separate system from the city buses.
@@DavidHalversonyour comment is very useful and valuable just like the video. In fact you clearly explained some details missing in the video. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for the nice video. I have a quick question, in the activity tab of the presto app there is an amount for tap on and another amount on tap off. So am I paying the summation ? or is it the corrected amount on tap off only ? Thanks again
Necessary to show where to tap whilr entering train and while coming out of srations. Adertise video for buses and trains pra ctical use i e how to insert or tap da y and night.
I'll be vacationing in toronto, would it be easier to rent and drive to the niagara falls ( I'll be staying there 1 night) then drive back? And can i take the train to the hotels in downtown? I'll be in toronto area for 3-4 days, should i get the presto card? I don't plan to drive around toronto other than just driving to see niagara falls.
I don't drive so I'm not sure about that, but you can definitely take the GO train to Niagara falls, then take the 'wego' or local bus. The core of Niagara Falls is pretty small, so you'll get there fast. I'd also recommend to visit Niagara on-the-lake (you can take an uber there). I would say it's worth getting the presto card just for the convenience, so you don't need to worry about buying a ticket every time. Hope this helps!
Actually I tapped with my debit card and I forgot to tap off. How long does the deduction of fair will occur? Will it be applicable for the same day or until I tap off again?
If you meant you forgot to tap off from GO transit, then the system will automatically charge you the most expensive fare on that route. I believe it will apply that charge the next time you tap on again.
what if i have a monthly pass ttc and i want to travel using subway line 2 (Danforth train - Castle Frank). Do I have to use another payment or can I use the monthly pass that I have??
If is it worth just tapping off everything just to make sure you don't get charged extra?, also is it worth getting a card just for just 8 days. I'm visiting this month
You only need to tap off on the GO train. I wouldn't tap off on TTC, because the system will think you're starting a new ride, and if you're past 2 hours it will charge you again. If you're making a lot of trips during those 8 days (let's say 2-4 trips/day) I definitely think getting a presto card is worth it. It's hassle-free.
Presto card itself has no expiry. It's just the monthly pass you load onto it that is valid for 1 month. Yes you can use it for the GO trian, but you ened to load money (cannot use the monthly pass). Cheers!
Hello, we are vacationing in Kitchener with 2 people and want to take the Go Train to Toronto for a day on a weekday. In Toronto we also want to use the TTC. Should we buy a pesto card or rather a day ticket each?
If you plan to make more than 4-5 trips (each would cost $3.2 on their own) then it's worth getting the day pass at $13.5. That way you don't need to worry about counting the number of trips you make and can explore Toronto to the fullest. The Presto card would cost $6 and that could make sense if you made 2-3 trips and then refund the card. That being said, I don't know if it's worth the trouble, and I haven't tried refunding it so I don't know how easy the process is.
If I am transiting for a TTC bus to a Go bus and the other way round on the return... Would I have to pay for both fares (on a one way journey TTC to GO)
You'll have to pay 2 fare, but if I'm not mistaken for certain trips there is a small discount when transferring from TTC to GO and vv, but I'm not sure how much that is and how it works.
Hi today i travelled from oakville to milton via oakville transit then go buses, what happened in oakville driver told me to only tap on not off when i deboarded howerver when i boarded in go buses driver told me tap on and tap off that's fine, what weird part i got charged on every transfer like tap on $0.98 then tap off $0.90 after that stop next one was free if 2 hours of window of free transit why am i charged on each go bus tap and off.
Great tips! What happens if I tap on the train (west end), then tap off at union, BUT THE catch a King St streetcar? If I tap on that, am I not paying twice? Isn’t the idea a “pay once” system? 🇨🇦
Do you mean you tapped but then did not board the train after all? In that case, possible the system may charge you the fare for the longest distance on that route.
i love how i lived in toronto for five years but things have changed so much in 20 years that i need to watch a youtube video to figure out how to use the TTC again 😂 what do you mean there aren't any tokens anymore...
Thanks for the video. Very helpful. However, you didn't mention that for GO Transit, you do not have to tap-off if you are travelling between your default stations.
Literally no one answered my question Clearly Imagine I have this presto card one month pass which is around $150 for a month And now if I want to travel to "Mississauga to Toronto" or Toronto to Mississauga Do I have to pay extra money?
I’m new to Canada. I’m so confused about the go-transit tapping off and on the thing. This is my future trip. I need to take two trains. I know that I need to tap on the Mount Pleasant Go station. Then I am required to transfer to the Bramalea Go. Do I need to tap off when I'm getting off the Mount Pleasant train? So where should I tap off? Plz guys explain
Morning. I will be traveling from the hamilton go station to Toronto union station one way at the end of the month. Do I still need to tap off when I reach union station? Thanks
@@LivinginCanada thanks for the quick reply. So basically I need to tap off the bus so the system knows that I’m finished my ride and won’t charge me again when that same bus goes back to Hamilton even if I’m not on that bus.?
I've never done this before, so sorry I can't answer. I would think that you'd tap off and on again, as GO has a system to calculate/combine multiple trips and apply the correct fare. But better check that out at the GO station by asking someone there. Perhaps someone who has transferred between GO trains can chip in here?
@@LivinginCanada If you are transferring between GO Train lines, (from Exhibition station on the Lakeshore West line changing at Union Station to Agincourt GO Station on the Stouffville Line), just tap in at the station where you are boarding. When you arrive at the destination station (eg Agincourt GO station), tap out on the PRESTO machines there. DO NOT TAP YOUR CARD AT UNION STATION AS DOING SO will end the trip (and you'll have to tap in again). When changing between GO train lines at Union Station, it is imperative that you go down to the concourse and check the TV monitors for the platform number your train is leaving from.
@@LivinginCanada If you're taking the Lakeshore West GO Train line and your destination stop is on the Lakeshore East Line (e.g Long Branch GO to Rouge Hill GO), stay on the train as in most cases the service is interlined. (Your Lakeshore West GO train will become the Lakeshore East Go train as it pulls into Union Station). No need to change trains at Union. Be sure to tap your PRESTO Card in at Long Branch GO and tap out at Rouge Hill GO so the correct fares are charged.
How does the go train presto work if i use it for my daily commute that is rouge hill to union station? I have to take a 54 bus from Lawrence avenue east to rogue hill go station and take a go train from rogue hill go station to union station and return from union station to rouge hill daily? How does this work
Yes you’d still need to tap on and off each time, otherwise the system wouldn’t know which fares to charge for the routes you took. Anyone, correct me if I’m mistaken here as I never did this. In the ttc you also need to tap on each time you board within the 2-hr free transfer window (but not tap off)
@@LivinginCanada I entered two consecutive GO Buses and it's seems like I was charged more because using the Go Transit website from my start location to my end location I should have paid less . I understand you have to tap on when you enter both buses. I was wondering whether you only need to tap off the second Go Bus. So your trip only ends at the end of the trip. ( Not TTC. From one Go Bus to another Go Bus - and both trips were completed within 2/3 hours)
@@temibolui literally watched this because i have the exact same question! i did hear that when making go transfers you only need tap off at your final destination but must tap on every time you can. but i’m not 100% sure and i don’t want to pay more than i have to
Yes, for TTC if you are crossing Steeles you have to tap when you board and tap when you exit. When you are taking YRT from Toronto into York Region you only tap when you board, but there are boarding/exiting restrictions so you can't use this for local Toronto only trips.
Do you mean GO or TTC? On TTC you don't need to tap off. If you meant GO, then the system will automatically charge you a higher fare (it will assume you took the trip to the end of the route).
Hi, what happens if u forget to tap in but tapped out in the end of the your stop? It made me pay double the usual fair of my usual ride does that mean my missing “ tap in” got calculated? How do I fix this issue?
How does the daily presto card works? I read you can buy like daily presto card for TTC? Will that work with GO train? Or just for TTC? And if you buy the day ticket for TTC, whenever you tap on TTC ride, it won't deduct any credits anymore for that day? While GO ride will deduct the credit you have? What will happen if you don't have enough credit? and is there a minimum credit you need to have on the card to be able to use it? Thanks
