Tap On and Off with a Credit Card on GO Transit
We have good news! We’ve introduced more ways to pay on GO Transit. You can now tap a credit card on and off a PRESTO device to pay your GO adult fare. You can also tap your phone or watch if you have a credit card stored in your mobile wallet. Learn more about PRESTO contactless payment with credit on GO.
Consider touchless payment options before you board
Consider touchless payment options like a PRESTO card or PRESTO contactless payment with credit to pay your fare before you board.
Instantly load money onto your PRESTO card using the PRESTO App available on the App Store or on Google Play.
You can also load your PRESTO card online or try other self-serve options like ticket vending machines at stations and activated e-tickets to buy your fare before boarding.
You might notice some new PRESTO payment devices at your station. Make sure you only tap your PRESTO card, credit card, or credit card on your phone or watch on the reader (not your entire wallet, or bag or phone case).
We’d also like to remind you that we are not accepting cash at our ticket booths or on our buses. Cash can be used at ticket vending machines at our stations.
Fare payment is required before boarding. When travelling from Union Station, fare payment is required before going up to the train platforms.
How GO Fares Work
Your GO fare is based on whether you’re an adult, senior, youth or post- secondary student and the distance you’re travelling between two specified points called fare zones. Children 12 and under can travel on GO Transit for free. We recommend children under 12 are accompanied by an adult when travelling on GO Transit. Children under 6 cannot travel alone.
To pay your fare, you can buy a ticket or pass, use your PRESTO card, or use PRESTO contactless payment with credit card. You use the same ticket or pass whether you take a GO train, a GO bus, or a combination of both for your trip. PRESTO automatically applies a fare credit when transferring between GO vehicles. You can calculate the fare for your trip here.
Where to Buy Tickets and Passes
You can buy tickets, group passes, and day passes at the ticket counter or ticket vending machine at your station.
Buy or load your PRESTO card at any GO or UP Express ticket counter, at select ticket vending machines across our system, PRESTO Self-Serve Reload machines, online at prestocard.ca, at customer service outlets, and at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations. You can learn more about PRESTO here.
Tips:
- Tap your PRESTO card, credit card, or credit card on your phone or watch before you board the train or bus and be sure to tap off. Learn about setting a default to your PRESTO card or credit card so you don’t have to tap off when you get off the train.
- Keep your ticket, pass, PRESTO card, or credit card, handy for fare inspection while you ride the train.
- Buy your ticket before you board the bus and show it to your driver.
Single-Ride Ticket
A single-ride ticket lets you travel one-way between two specified fare zones. This type of ticket is for:
- Continuous travel only—no stopovers.
- Trips that start within four hours of the time a ticket is purchased.
Day Pass
A day pass gives you unlimited travel for one day between two specified fare zones. For example, if you want to make a return trip, then you buy a day pass. A day pass is:
- Equivalent to buying two one-way fares within the same fare zone.
- Valid on the day of purchase only; cannot be purchased in advance.
Via Rail
To make extended travel easier, VIA Rail passengers can purchase a ticket for most connecting VIA and GO train trips at select VIA stations, online at VIA Rail, or by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245).
Ticket Types
The information below is about the different types of GO tickets and passes available, as well as PRESTO card settings for teens and postsecondary students. Visit our PRESTO page to learn more.
| If You’re | Types of Tickets and Passes |
|---|---|
|
Adult 13 to 64 years of age |
Single-Ride Day Pass |
|
Senior 65 years or over |
Single-Ride Day Pass Senior single-ride fare is half the adult single-ride fare. There are no discounts for a Day Pass. |
|
Child 12 years of age and under |
Free |
|
Youth (13-19 years of age) |
PRESTO Youth (13-19 years of age) using PRESTO can get a discount on their GO fare. Use the fare calculator here to see the fares. You must travel with your Canadian school-issued ID or a government-issued photo ID to prove your age and avoid fines. |
|
Post-Secondary Student |
PRESTO Full-time Canadian university and college students using PRESTO can get a discount on their GO fare. Use the fare calculator to see the fares. Students must see a station ambassador or visit a Customer Service Outlet to have a “Post Secondary Student” setting added to their card, along with the expiry date for that setting. Students must carry GO approved Student ID to show during fare inspections. Learn more about getting and using Student ID. |
|
Group A group consists of up to a maximum of 5 individuals travelling together using the same paper ticket. |
Group Pass Up to 2 Adults and up to 3 guests 19 years of age and under, maximum of 5 individuals travelling on the same ticket Members of groups do not have to be related |
|
Children’s Group |
Leaders of a group of 20 or more children 12 and under should contact us at 1-888-GET-ON-GO (438-6646) at least 24 hours in advance to arrange, if space is available. |
|
Large Group 15 or more people who are travelling on GO together |
Contact us at 1-888-GET-ON-GO (438-6646) at least 24 hours in advance to arrange, if space is available. All regular fares apply. Single-Ride tickets or Day Passes are sold on the day of travel only, and groups must be at the station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Large Group Pass customers won’t be eligible for discounts on local transit to and from GO stations and terminals. |
|
Support Person An attendant who travels with a passenger with a disability |
If you need to travel with a support person, they can ride with you for free. Buy your ticket at the ticket counter and your support person can get a Support Person ticket. If you use PRESTO, ask for a Support Person sticker to be put on your card at the ticket counter. |
GO Train Service Guarantee
We promise to do our best to be on time, however, sometimes delays happen - including those outside our control. Our GO Train Service Guarantee applies to all delayed, regularly scheduled trips, except when delays are caused by extreme weather conditions.
Visit our Service Guarantee page for more information or to make a claim.
Co-fare discounts with our transit partners
As of March 14, 2022, we’ve made travel FREE between GO Transit and most local transit agencies. This increased co-fare discount from 75% to 100% includes connections to and from GO and these local transit systems: Durham Region Transit, Milton Transit, Grand River Transit, Guelph Transit, Oakville Transit, MiWay, Brampton Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Bradford West Gwillimbury Transit and York Region Transit. If you’re a Barrie Transit rider, you’ll continue to receive free fare. Learn more.
Public Transit Tax Credit
You may be eligible for a tax credit. For more information about PRESTO and the public transit tax credit, visit prestocard.ca.
GO Affordability Pilot
As another way of creating transit that is more accessible, we launched a pilot program to benefit riders who are enrolled in Peel Region’s Affordable Transit Program. We will reimburse 50% of the GO Transit adult fare for those customers.
How it works:
- If you’re a resident of Peel Region and are enrolled in the Affordable Transit Program with Brampton Transit or MiWay, you will be reimbursed for 50% of your PRESTO adult fare when you travel on GO Transit using your PRESTO card.
- You do not need to connect between GO Transit and Brampton Transit or MiWay to qualify for the reimbursement. It will apply to ANY trip that you take using GO Transit. To receive the reimbursement, simply tap on a PRESTO device within 30 days of travelling on GO Transit. After you tap on the PRESTO device, you will see your reimbursed fare on your PRESTO account within seven days.
About The Peel Affordable Transit Program:
The Peel Affordable Transit Program is a partnership between the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton, and the City of Mississauga’s transit authorities. The program subsidizes 50% of the cost of a monthly PRESTO pass on local transit for low-income individuals in Brampton or Mississauga.
You can learn more about eligibility for the program and how to apply for a discounted pass for Brampton Transit or MiWay on the Peel Region website.
Our Pilot: At GO Transit, we care about creating equitable access to communities. Through the GO Affordability Pilot, we will increase access to jobs, educational opportunities, and leisure activities for riders who need it most - within and beyond their municipalities.
We will expand the pilot to other transit systems in a phased approach with the aim of helping everyone get where they need to go.
Good news Kennedy customers!
We’re trying out lower fares between Kennedy GO and Union Station to give people in Scarborough another way to avoid congestion when going downtown for work, appointments and fun.
Since November 2019, and over an 18-month trial period, the fare for GO trips between Kennedy GO and Union Station will be reduced from $4.75 to $3.70 when you use your PRESTO card, which is more comparable to the TTC cash fare of $3.25.
Fares for trips between Kennedy GO and Exhibition will also be lowered during the trial.
Check out the Metrolinx Blog post to read more about it.
Remembrance Day & Warriors' Day - Veterans ride for free
Every year on November 11 and for the Warriors' Day Parade at the CNE, we honour those who have served to protect our country by offering free GO transportation for veterans, their companion and currently serving members of the Canadian military.
Veterans and currently serving members of the Canadian military are asked to identify themselves by wearing or carrying their medals, beret, blazer, uniform, other similar belongings or Veteran’s Service Card while travelling.
Immediate family members of deceased veterans may also ride for free if carrying something to identify their relations to the late veteran, such as service papers or an identification card.