GO Transit is pairing up with the TTC on a one-year pilot project to give commuters more choices and make it easier and faster to get around central Toronto.

Starting Monday, January 26, TTC Metropass holders can buy a $60 sticker at GO’s Exhibition, Union and Danforth Stations that will allow them unlimited travel by GO train between those locations. The stickers come into effect in February and offer passengers express travel to and from downtown Toronto. This represents about a 65 per cent discount over the regular cost of riding GO Transit between these stations.

According to a Metrolinx news release, passengers travelling between Danforth GO Station and Union could save 15 minutes or more per trip during rush hour, when comparing travel on the TTC’s subway between Main Street Station and Union. Passengers travelling between Exhibition GO Station and Union could save at least 10 minutes per trip during rush hours.

At the same time, GO is also increasing service between Danforth GO Station and Union Station. It’s stopping more 09 Lakeshore East trains at Danforth and most (but not all) trains operating along the 71 Stouffville line. (Transit Toronto notes that this will be the first time since 1988 that Stouffville trains have served Danforth.)

The TTC says that getting (and using) the new GO fare sticker is easy:

• Bring your TTC Metropass (for the current or upcoming month) to the ticket counter at Exhibition, Union or Danforth GO stations;
• Pay $60 for the GO fare sticker;
• A GO station attendant will attach the sticker to your valid TTC Metropass; and then
• You’re good to go (or GO)!

With the GO fare sticker on your a valid Metropass, you can travel by GO train between Exhibition, Union and Danforth GO Stations only. If you travel beyond these stations, you must pay a full GO fare. You must buy a new sticker for each Metropass you buy and the cost of the stickers is non-refundable.

GO staff may ask passengers to show proof of the fare that they paid at any time, so be sure to have your valid Metropass with the GO fare sticker handy while travelling on GO.

GO says that using the sticker with your Metropass does not qualify you for its “GO Train Service Guarantee”, since you won’t have proof that you traveled by GO and paid a GO fare on a specific day or for a specific trip.

The pilot project continues until January 2016. Metrolinx, GO and TTC staff will review the results of the project and recommend continuing, expanding or canceling the program this year. The TTC explains, “This pilot project… help[s] us better understand our customers’ motivations for using different types of transit as we work to bring more convenient, integrated service to the GTA.”

Transit Toronto notes:

• seven eastbound trains operate along GO’s 01 Lakeshore West line between Exhibition and Union from about 6 until 9 a.m.
• seven westbound trains operate between Union and Exhibition from about 6 until 9 a.m.
• seven westbound trains operate between Union and Exhibition from about 3 until 7 p.m.
• eight eastbound trains operate between Exhibition and Union from about 3 until 7 p.m.
• seven westbound trains operate along GO’s 09 Lakeshore East line between Danforth and Union Mondays to Fridays from about 6 until 9 a.m.
• six eastbound trains currently operate between Union and Danforth from about 6 until 9 a.m. Starting Monday, February 2, GO will operate two more.
• eight eastbound trains currently operate between Union and Danforth from about 3 until 7 p.m. Starting Monday, February 2, GO will operate one more.
• six westbound trains currently operate between Danforth and Union from about 3 until 7 p.m. Starting Monday, February 2, GO will operate two more.
• you can view GO Transit schedules here.

Also:

• Starting Monday, February 2, all southbound trains (five trains) operating along the 71 Stouffville line also stop at Danforth GO Station. Three (out of five) northbound trains stop at Danforth.
• February 2, 2015 is likely the first day since June 28, 1988 that GO trains operating along the 71 Stouffville line have stopped at Danforth.

And:

• You’ll need to plan for about seven minutes to walk between the TTC’s Main Street Station and Danforth GO Station, if you intend to arrive before a particular GO train leaves the station.
• Exhibition GO Station is close — within walking distance — to many residents of Liberty Village.
• The nearest TTC service north of Exhibition GO is a stop for the 63 Ossington route at Liberty Street and Atlantic Avenue.
• The TTC’s Exhibition Loop is immediately south of Exhibition GO Station. However, most, but not all, TTC passengers arriving there will likely have already started their trips at points closer to Union Station than Exhibition Loop.