Ridership on the Union Pearson Express has more than doubled since fares were slashed last week, according to Metrolinx Spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins.

A one-way trip from Union Station to Pearson International Airport was initially priced at $19 with a Presto card or $27.50 without but on March 9 the fare was reduced to $9 with a Presto card or $12 without.

Since that point, Marie Aikins says that ridership has held steady at about 5,000 passengers a day. That number compares favourably with the 2,450 riders a day that were using the service in November and December. In fact, if the ridership persists at the level seen since fares were slashed March would easily top October’s monthly high of 79,010 riders.

Aikins, however, confirms to CP24 that it will take at least six weeks to prepare a more detailed report on ridership in the wake of the fare reduction.

It also remains to be seen what impact the reduced fares will have on the cost of operating the service.

Metrolinx had originally set a goal of 5,000 daily riders by the end of this year, however that was based on the higher fare.