Rocket Talk: Why Are Transfers from One Station Valid Only at Others?

By Torontoist

Have questions about the TTC? Rocket Talk is a regular Torontoist column, featuring TTC Chair Adam Giambrone and Director of Communications Brad Ross’s answers to Torontoist readers’ questions. Submit your questions to [email protected]!

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Reader Mark Jull asks:

Why are transfers obtained at a station not valid for that station’s connecting routes?
I assume it has something to do with fraudulent use of transfers, but I can’t see how exactly—perhaps I’m not criminally minded enough!
Let me give you an example: I pay my fare at St. George Station and head south with the intention of getting off at St. Patrick and walking over to the Eaton Centre. But, while riding the subway I remember I was supposed to go pick something up out on Dundas West. I am not allowed to grab a transfer at St. Patrick Station and get on the Dundas streetcar. I could, however, get off at Museum Station, get a transfer, get back on the subway, get off at St. Patrick and use the transfer to get on the Dundas streetcar.
If you could please provide a hypothetical with your answer, I’d be very grateful; an instance where a rider could get a “free ride” if they took a transfer at the subway station they’re exiting.

TTC Director of Communications Brad Ross says:

The TTC is one of the few transit properties in the world that allows for “free body transfers” between transit modes—subway, bus, and streetcar. These “free body transfers” occur at subway stations where a surface vehicle terminates its route. At most subway stations, passengers do not need to show a transfer to the operator or collector when connecting to one mode from another, as he or she is already inside the “paid area.”
But not all subway stations that connect or intersect with surface routes are “free body.” And this is why you should always obtain a transfer where you pay your fare. Even if you’re travelling to a station with “free body” transfers you should always have a transfer, in case your plans change en route or you’re not familiar with the bus and streetcar connections along the way. Some routes, such as the streetcars on Queen Street, the Queensway, and Lake Shore, are proof of payment routes, and you must have a valid transfer or pass whenever you’re riding on those routes.
(All of this assumes, of course, that you are paying by a means other than a Metropass. Not to overstate the obvious for most of you, but a transfer is not required if you are using a Metropass.)
The question is: why can’t I get a transfer at King Station to use on the King streetcar? Or at Osgoode Station to use on the 501 Queen streetcar? And so on.
Before I answer that, I want to state, unequivocally, that the TTC does not believe its passengers are scofflaws. However, there are some who do their best to avoid paying their fare.
So, let’s assume there are two or more people travelling together and they’re at King and Yonge. Let’s also assume some or all of these people want to take the King streetcar, but not pay their fare. Let’s say, then, that the group elects one person to enter King Station, legally. But rather than getting on the subway, our resident scofflaw goes to the transfer machine and obtains several transfers for each member of the group for the purpose of boarding the King streetcar with “paid fare,” i.e. a transfer.
Hence, the policy, and why our operators cannot accept one of these transfers.
The other reason transfers are not accepted on the surface if obtained at the intersecting station is the possibility of budding entrepreneurs punching out hundreds of transfers for the purpose of selling them at the corner at a deep discount.
Fares pay for about 70% of the TTC’s operating costs. The vast, vast majority of TTC riders understand this and legitimately pay their fare, even if they disagree when there’s a fare increase.
In the end, if you pay by cash, token, or ticket, always get a transfer. Hang onto it. It’s your receipt.