It’s that time again - back to school season! Along with double checking your course schedule and buying your books, we know that planning your commute to school is an important part of your back to school plans.
Whether you’re a first year student - or a first time in-person student - and commuting to school is all new for you, or a seasoned post-secondary student who’s returning to school after a year of virtual learning, you might have some questions about your commute.
Going back to school with GO is a great choice! We can get you to many post-secondary schools across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Also, you can use our Where’s My Bus service to find out when your GO bus will arrive in real time. Best of all, students save 40% off the full single adult fare with PRESTO, and GO Wi-Fi Plus gives you FREE data and a FREE content portal so you can relax and be entertained on your ride to and from school.
If you previously used GO Transit for your commute to school, welcome back! We know that you still might need some refreshers about travelling with us - it’s been a while! We’ve got all your school commuter tips and reminders right here.
Keep reading for everything you need to know for an easy and safe first day of school.
School Routes & PRESTO Savings
Trip Planning
Our schedules have changed - and are continuing to change - so be sure to:
- Use our website to plan your trip and check your schedule ahead of time.
- Plan connections to local transit providers on Triplinx.
- Use our Where’s My Bus service, if you’re taking a GO bus, to find out when your bus is going to arrive in real-time.
- Remember to keep your ticket or PRESTO card handy as you’ll need to provide valid proof of fare payment upon inspection.
Schools We Serve
Wondering if your post-secondary school is accessible by GO Transit? Check out the GO bus routes that serve colleges and universities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe!
Brock University
- 18K - Lakeshore West GO Bus
McMaster University
- 15 - Wilfrid Laurier (Brantford Campus)/McMaster University GO Bus
- 41 – Hamilton/Pickering GO Bus
- 47 - Hamilton/Hwy 407 Bus Terminal GO Bus
- 47D - McMaster/Square One/Bramalea GO/Hwy 407 Bus Terminal GO Bus – seasonal weekday 30-minute express service starting September 6, 2022
- 47G - McMaster/Erin Mills Transit Way Local GO Bus
Sheridan College - Trafalgar Road Campus
- 56 – Oakville/Oshawa GO Bus
University of Waterloo
- 25 - Waterloo/Mississauga GO Bus
- 25C - Waterloo/Square One Express GO Bus – seasonal hourly weekday express service returns starting September 6, 2022
- 30 - Kitchener/Bramalea GO Bus – additional trips serving University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo starting September 6, 2022
Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo
- 25 - Waterloo/Mississauga GO Bus
- 25C - Waterloo/Square One Express GO Bus – seasonal hourly weekday express service returns starting September 6, 2022
- 30 - Kitchener/Bramalea GO Bus – additional trips serving University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo starting September 6, 2022
Wilfrid Laurier University - Brantford
- 15 - Wilfrid Laurier (Brantford Campus)/McMaster University GO Bus
University of Guelph
- 29 - Guelph/Mississauga/Kipling GO Bus
- 31 - Guelph/Toronto GO Bus
- 31A - Guelph/Union GO Bus
- 31M - Brampton GO/Guelph GO Bus
- 33 - Guelph/North York GO Bus
- 33C - Guelph/Georgetown GO Bus
- 33F - Guelph/Mount Pleasant GO Bus
- 48 - Guelph/Hwy 407 Bus Terminal GO Bus
Niagara College - Niagara-on-the-Lake
- 12 - Niagara Falls GO Bus
York University
You can travel by GO Bus to Hwy 407 Bus Terminal, then transfer to TTC Line 1 to get to York University.
- 40 – Hamilton/Richmond Hill GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 41 – Hamilton/Pickering GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 41A - U of T Scarborough/Square One GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 45B - Mississauga/Unionville GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 47 - Hamilton/York University GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 47D - McMaster/Square One/Bramalea GO/Hwy 407 Bus Terminal GO Bus (with TTC transfer) – seasonal weekday 30-minute express service starting September 6, 2022
- 47G - McMaster/Erin Mills Transit Way Local GO Bus
- 48 - Guelph/York University GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 52 - Oshawa/York University GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 54 - Markham/York University GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
- 56 – Oshawa/Oakville GO Bus (with TTC transfer)
Ontario Tech University/Durham College
- 52 - Oshawa/Hwy 407 Bus Terminal GO Bus
- 56 – Oshawa/Oakville GO Bus
Trent University
- 88 - Peterborough/Oshawa GO Bus
Centennial College - Progress Campus
- 41 – Hamilton/Pickering GO Bus
- 41A - U of T Scarborough/Square One GO Bus
U of T Scarborough Campus
- 41 – Hamilton/Pickering GO Bus
- 41A - U of T Scarborough/Square One GO Bus
U of T St. George Campus, George Brown College, TMU - Toronto Metropolitan University, OCAD University, OISE
- Any route that serves Union Station or Union Station Bus Terminal with a TTC transfer.
Use a PRESTO card
Commuting to school with a PRESTO card is easy and convenient - and the best part is that full-time post-secondary students with a GO Transit Student ID save 40% off the full single adult fare when using a PRESTO card. Be sure to set up your PRESTO card for the student fare to take advantage of this discount.
Now’s the time to:
- Look for your PRESTO card! If you’ve lost it or you don’t have one, you can buy a PRESTO card at select Shoppers Drug Mart and grocery store locations or online before your trip. You can also buy a card at a Ticket Vending Machine at select GO stations. If your lost card was registered, your balance is protected and you can transfer it to your new card through your PRESTO account online.
- Download the PRESTO App on the App Store or Google Play.
- Check your card balance and instantly load funds using the app.
- Set up Autoload on the app so you never have to worry about running out of funds on your card. Choose a minimum dollar amount and your PRESTO card will automatically reload when your balance falls below it.
- Remember that many local transit systems also offer discounts for GO customers. PRESTO automatically calculates your discount and applies it to your PRESTO account when you connect to or from GO Transit and your local transit systems.
- Calculate your GO Transit fare before you start your school commute!
GO E-Tickets
If you’re only attending classes on campus part-time and don’t have a PRESTO card, you’ll love the convenience of buying GO e-tickets!
- Buy e-tickets online
- E-tickets are emailed to you
- Remember to activate your ticket 5 minutes before boarding, using your smartphone.
It’s important to know that cash is not accepted at our ticket counters or on buses, so it’s best to buy ahead of time with cashless and contactless options (cash is accepted at Ticket Vending Machines - $50 and $100 bills are NOT accepted at the machines at this time).
Valid for 7 Days From Purchase
Starting September. 6, 2022, the validation period for GO Transit e-tickets and passes is changing to seven days. E-tickets and passes purchased on or before September. 5, 2022, will continue to be valid for up to one year from the date of purchase, as long as they’re not activated.
Set a Default Trip
Do you regularly travel between the same two GO train stations? Make your school commute even easier by setting a GO train default trip on the PRESTO App!
- No need to see a Station Ambassador in person at a GO station - you can easily set it yourself in the app.
- Just tap once at the beginning of your train trip with your PRESTO card. No need to tap off at the end of your trip!
- But remember - default trips are only for GO train trips, not for GO bus trips.
New Customer Amenities
Enhanced Onboard Experience
Check your course updates online, listen to an Audiobook that’s on your course reading list, or just chill out after a day of study and text your friends on your way home. GO Wi-Fi Plus is now available on our buses and trains so you can watch, listen, comment, and share while you ride with FREE data!
- All riders will get up to 10 MB of data per trip. Registered My PRESTO Account users will receive 50 MB of data per trip.
- FREE and UNLIMITED content? Yes, please! GO Wi-Fi Plus has a content portal that offers you access to TV shows, music, audiobooks, e-books, courses, and podcasts!
- We’ve also teamed up with Audible.ca to offer you free audiobooks, podcasts, and more - courtesy of the Quiet Zone by Audible. Just scan our Quiet Zone signs onboard our trains to redeem your free audiobook.
New Union Station Bus Terminal
The brand new Union Station Bus Terminal is open! If you’ll be taking a GO bus to Union Station to reach your school in Downtown Toronto, here’s what you need to know:
- The new terminal is located at the northeast corner of Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard, just south of the old bus terminal.
- The new terminal is a two-level, indoor space so you can wait comfortably and then board your bus - all without leaving the building!
- It connects directly to the Scotiabank Arena, the PATH, and Union Station through a new pedestrian bridge over Bay Street - easy access to anywhere in the city.
- The new terminal has zones, and gates within those zones, that open to the bus platforms - similar to an airport. Pay attention to the digital screens to find out which zone and gate your bus is departing from.
Revitalized Bay Concourse
In the new and improved Bay Concourse at Union Station you’ll find:
- More waiting space - there’s lots of room to spread out and you can access the full length of the platform from the concourse level.
- More connections to the PATH network - the revitalized concourse makes it easier for you to get where you need to go!
Safety Never Stops
Safety Measures
After a year of virtual learning, you might be feeling a little nervous about returning to in-person classes and travelling to school. You can be confident that your safety is our number one priority! We’ve added enhanced cleaning routines, seat dividers on all trains and buses, upgraded the ventilation and air filtration systems on our vehicles, and more safety measures in our commitment to your health and comfort.
Here’s what you should know before you GO:
- Don’t take public transit if you’re sick.
- Masks are optional but welcome on GO Transit. Customers are encouraged to respect their fellow riders' personal choices.
- Wash your hands frequently. Hand sanitizing stations are also available throughout your journey!
- Avoid lining up at stations. Instantly load funds onto your PRESTO card by using the PRESTO App, or buy your e-ticket online before you head to your station.
CleanSlate UV Sanitizing Devices
If you’re feeling a little nervous about unwanted surface germs, we’ve got the solution! We’ve teamed up with CleanSlate UV to bring you FREE sanitizing devices at Union Station and 17 other select GO stations.
The devices are powered by UV light that can kill up to 99.9% of germs in just 20 seconds! You can use these to disinfect your phone, keys, PRESTO card, student ID, and more!
Parking
Free Parking
If you’re driving from home to one of our stations, know that we offer FREE parking to customers on a first-come, first-served basis at most GO stations. We’re committed to making your commute to school as easy and cost effective as possible so that you can save your cash for a coffee to bring to your morning class!
Reserved Parking, Carpooling, or Zipcar
If you don’t have class first thing in the morning and you want to be sure that you have a parking spot when you arrive at the station, reserved parking, carpooling, or Zipcar might be a good option for you. Zipcars are available at select GO stations - check to see if your station offers it!
Cycling or Local Transit Options
If you’re looking for alternative ways of getting to your GO station, consider local transit options or you could even walk or cycle. Some GO stations offer bike storage or bike share - it’s an easy way to exercise your body while you’re on your way to exercise your mind!
Stay In The Know
On The GO Alert
Stay up to date on new schedules, service improvements, construction, delays, and other important news by signing up to get On the GO Alerts via text message or email.
Find A Station or Stop
Are you travelling to or from a new-to-you GO station or stop for your school commute? Check out the station page to find departure information, train, bus, and station alerts, and information about construction, fares, and amenities. It’s everything you need to know!
GO Branded Back to School Merch
Check out the latest GO branded gear for school - available online only at The Metrolinx Shop! Head back to school with a stylish reversible bucket hat, take your lunch on the GO with the GO train and bus pattern lunch bag, and stay organized at school with the GO Pencil Case.
Now GO and Learn!
You can count on GO to get you to school safely and comfortably so that you can focus on your studies!
