Metrolinx Piloting Apple Pay on Toronto's UP Express, Working to Expand to TTC

Metrolinx this week announced that commuters can now use contactless payment options like Apple Pay to pay for their fare on UP Express, a train that connects Downtown Toronto with Toronto Pearson International Airport.

presto machine apple pay
Prior to boarding the train, commuters simply need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the PRESTO payment terminal to pay for their fare with a credit card loaded in the Wallet app — or tap a physical credit card. At the end of the trip, riders must "tap off" with the same credit card or mobile payment device they used to "tap on" with to ensure that they pay the correct fare for their trip on UP Express, as usual.

If a rider is approached by a fare inspector, they can present the same credit card or mobile wallet used to pay the fare as proof of payment.

The contactless payment option has been available for UP Express adult fare since March 11, as part of a pilot program. Student or other discounted fares still require using a PRESTO card for now. Metrolinx plans to expand contactless payments to more transit agencies "soon" across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including the TTC.

It's worth noting that it is still not possible to add the PRESTO card to the Wallet app, and this does not appear to be part of the current plans.


"We're currently working with the TTC to determine the potential timelines for this work," a Metrolinx spokesperson told Global News.

Later this year, Metrolinx also plans to add Interac Debit as a payment option for UP Express.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
maxresdefault

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options...

Top Rated Comments

murdoc2k Avatar
56 months ago
This is wonderful news. Toronto has now reached the 2010 milestone in tech. Only 11 more years to go.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jicon Avatar
56 months ago
I’d prefer Presto card Wallet integration, but this is a good step forward
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hyperchaotic Avatar
56 months ago
I send a message to Translink ('https://www.translink.ca/about-us/customer-service/contact-information') in Vancouver every year asking for express transit. They're used to me now, they have started responding with "oh hi, no we still haven't.... but will forward your mail again...".
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
38 months ago
Update: Open Payment is currently “targeted” for rollout by the end of this year. I’m not super confident in the TTC and Metrolinx’ ability to meet deadlines but at least we know it’s coming, sooner or later.

A nice surprise is that a virtual Presto card is also coming, likely via Apple's Transit Card on iOS and watchOS.

cc: @avonord

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
56 months ago

what about transfers? does it track them as a Presto card does?
Yes, it tracks transfers. That’s done at the system level not at the terminal. If you tap the same card within 2 hours, it’s a $0.00 charge, no different than how a PRESTO card does it.


"Metrolinx Piloting Apple Pay"
No, they're piloting contactless payments ?
They’re also piloting Apple Pay. It’s not just a straightforward contactless payment. Apple Pay serves up a token, not a credit card number. It requires its own implementation, otherwise it would look like a different credit card each time it’s tapped, making it impossible to track transfers, fare verification and ride history. The article title is correct: Metrolinx is piloting Apple Pay.


Seems like a quite nice implementation.

I suppose it still needs authentication though? Express Transit doesn't need auth, it has Power Reserve for when the phone is dead and it works with concession cards (I don't know if Presto have those)- so in several ways is very useful.
Express Transit works with credit/debit cards.



Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
56 months ago

I can't understand why they are not even planning integration of Presto cards with the Wallet. What could be the reason? Are there technical limitations? If not, what is the problem?

I’d prefer Presto card Wallet integration, but this is a good step forward
I actually prefer this implementation. It sets the stage for eliminating the need for a PRESTO card at all. Using a credit card charges you the PRESTO price rather than the cash fare. That’s a pleasant surprise.

Once you’ve tapped a credit card at least once, you can then add it into your PRESTO account in the app so it’ll work exactly like a PRESTO card:



Once your card is added to the app, you can track your trips like any other PRESTO card with the added benefit that you don’t have to load it before use. It’ll charge as you go.

Not everyone has a credit card but once debit cards are added, it’ll cover the vast majority of people. There’ll still be one time use PRESTO tickets which can be purchased with cash and are given out in community centres and shelters for the less fortunate. Ultimately, we won’t need a transit card at all, removing much of the complexity that exists today.

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)