MAKING A CLAIM ONLINE?
We promise to do our best to be on time; however, sometimes delays happen. If your train arrival is delayed by 15 minutes or more, we will refund what you paid for your GO train trip.
Our Service Guarantee policy doesn’t apply to delays caused by reasons outside of our control, including extreme weather, emergency investigations, pedestrian incidents, track obstructions, and on-board emergencies. Read more about our policy.
If you paid for your trip using a PRESTO card you can submit your claim online by clicking on the "Does my trip qualify?" button. If you used an e-ticket, paper ticket, or day or group pass for your trip, you may request a GO fare voucher in-person at Union Station. A station ambassador can check to see if the trip qualifies for a refund.
Read the FAQ section below for more information.
To view the status of your Service Guarantee claims, please enter one of the following:
1. Trip details should be automatically populated. Select "Next" if all the details are correct.
2. Enter your presto card number without any spaces presto card number are 17 digit and found on the back of your presto card.
3. Enter the letters you see in the captcha box.
4. Read the privacy statement and check the box to confirm.
5. Click "Next".
6. Ensure the trip details we have for this claim are correct.
7. Provide your email address to receive status updates(recommended).
- Rest assured that your email address would only be used for this purpose.
8. Confirm your email by entering it again.
9. Click "submit".
1. Select the green tab "view previous claims".
2. Click where it says "please select...".
3. Select how you would like to identify the claim:
-using your "presto card number", you will see all claims identified with that card.
-using your "claim number", you will only see the claim unique to that claim number.
4. Enter the number.
5. Click "view claim status"
Eligibility
Q: What delayed trips are eligible for a refund under the GO Train Service Guarantee policy?
A: The GO Train Service Guarantee means that a GO fare refund onto your PRESTO card will be available to train passengers for trips that arrive at their destination station 15 minutes or more behind schedule. The refund applies to delays within GO’s control; trips eligible include those delayed by:
- - Equipment, signal, or switch problems
- - Railcar door issues
- - Train traffic
- - Blocked tracks due to freight or VIA trains
- - Construction or maintenance
- - Operanional or mechanical issues
To be eligible, if you’ve travelled with a ticket on the delayed train, that ticket must have been purchased within one hour of the scheduled departure time. If you used PRESTO, you must have tapped on no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of the delayed train.
Q: What delays are not eligible for the GO Train Service Guarantee?
A: We do our best to be on time, but sometimes outside factors delay our trains. Delays caused by emergency investigations, on-board emergencies, pedestrian incidents, track obstructions and extreme weather are not covered by the GO Train Service Guarantee.
Delays caused by the following will not be eligible for the Service Guarantee:
- - Police investigations
- - Onboard emergencies
- - Trespassing or pedestrian incidents
- - Track obstructions
- - Extreme weather
- - When the “GO Transit Adjusted Winter Storm Schedule” plan is in effect
- - When the onboard yellow emergency strip has been pushedt
- - Welland Canal right-of-way for passing ships
- - Previously communicated service adjustments
- - Trips on multiple corridors (only 1 trip at a time)
Delays on one line can affect the eligibility for delays on other lines if the same train is being used.
For example: A Lakeshore East train is scheduled to run on the Kitchener line after it gets to Union Station. Due to a fatality at Rouge Hill, the Lakeshore East trip is delayed getting to Union Station and is late departing Union as the Kitchener line trip. Since it is the same train for the Lakeshore East trip and the Kitchener line trip, both trips are considered ineligible for the Service Guarantee.
Q: What fare types are eligible for a refund under the GO Train Service Guarantee?
A: Fares paid by PRESTO, day and group passes, e-tickets and paper tickets are eligible for a refund under the GO Train Service Guarantee.
Q: When do I have to tap on with my PRESTO card to be eligible?
A: In order to be considered as eligible proof of fare for the Service Guarantee, your PRESTO card must have been tapped no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of the delayed train.
Q: How will I know if my trip is eligible for a refund with the GO Train Service Guarantee?
A: If you paid for the affected trip using a PRESTO card, you can check to see if your trip qualifies for a refund once the trip is complete and available on the Service Guarantee page. If you used an e-ticket or paper ticket, see a GO station ambassador at Union Station.
Q: I take multiple trains during my one-way GO commute. If one train is late, does the refund apply to my entire journey?
A: That depends. Refunds will only be issued for delayed individual train trips. For your journey, you can submit one claim for each train trip, but each train will be considered separately.
Q: Are cancelled trips eligible?
A: If you’ve tapped your PRESTO card or bought an e-ticket or paper ticket in advance of a cancelled trip, you can cancel your tap at a PRESTO machine or present your e-ticket or paper ticket to a station ambassador. Boarded trips cancelled after they have departed will be eligible for a refund if the cause is within GO’s control.
Q: Does the GO Train Service Guarantee apply to bus or train-bus trips?
A: The GO Train Service Guarantee only applies to trips taken by train.
Q: My commute consists of a train and then bus trip. Will I be refunded for the bus ride if the train is late and I have to take a later bus?
A: No, the GO Train Service Guarantee only applies to the train portion of your trip and does not cover missed connections.
Q: Does the GO Train Service Guarantee apply to tickets purchased under special event fares?
A: No, the GO Train Service Guarantee does not apply to flat-rate special event tickets.
Making a claim & credits
Q: I am a PRESTO card holder, how do I request a GO Train Service Guarantee refund?
A: If you’re a PRESTO card holder, submit your claim at gotransit.com/guarantee within seven days of your delayed trip; you will be notified within five days whether your trip was eligible.
Q: How do I request a refund when using a paper ticket?
A: If you traveled using an e-ticket, paper ticket or a day or group pass, you must submit your claim in-person with a station ambassador at Union Station by the end of the business day following your delayed train. E-ticket and paper ticket, day pass and group pass holders will receive a GO fare voucher for eligible claims. If you are delayed on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday you may make the request before the close of business Monday.
Q: I am a PRESTO card holder, how do I know the status of my claim?
A: You will be able to view the status of active claims anytime in the ‘View Previous Claims’ section at the top of this page by entering your PRESTO card number or a claim number.
Q: I am a PRESTO card holder, how do I receive my refund?
A: Once your claim status is “Approved and ready to be collected,” simply tap your PRESTO card on a PRESTO device, and your balance will be updated with your refund immediately.
Your card balance will update whether you tap onto a PRESTO balance checker (yellow) or a PRESTO payment device (green).
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Q: Can I get money back for my delayed trip?
A: Unfortunately, no. Through the GO Train Service Guarantee, we offer a refund to use toward transit fare. PRESTO card holders will receive an update to their balance, and e-ticket, paper ticket, day pass and group pass holders will receive a GO fare voucher. The value of the refund is equal to the amount paid for the trip that was delayed.
Q: How long after the delay can I make a claim?
A: If you travelled using PRESTO, you can make your claim online within seven days of the delay.
If you traveled using an e-ticket, paper ticket or a day or group pass, you have until the end of the next business day to request a refund from a station ambassador at Union Station. If you are delayed on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday you may make a request before the close of business Monday.
Q: How will I be refunded for the delay?
A: Once approved, if you’re a PRESTO cardholder, your balance will be updated with your next tap.
If you used an e-ticket or a paper ticket, you will receive a GO fare voucher.
Q: I take local transit to the GO train station and received a co-fare discount off of my GO fare when I use my PRESTO card. What will I get as a GO Train Service Guarantee refund?
A: If you’re travelling from a local transit system to the GO station you will receive the fare paid upon tapping at the GO station as a refund. To receive a refund for the difference between the local co-fare and the higher local transit tap on value, see a station ambassador at Union Station or call us at 1.888.GET ON GO (438.6646).
Q: I am a PRESTO card holder, and I tapped on for my trip, but I forgot to tap off and I don’t have a default set. Can I still request a refund?
A: A Service Guarantee refund will not be approved for a trip with no default or tap off records. Please make a claim online for the trip you took and visit us at Union Station or call us at 1.888.GET ON GO (438.6646) for assistance.
Q: GO fare using PRESTO decreases as I use it in a month. Does this affect any potential credits for delayed trips?
A: The value of the refund is equal to the amount paid for the particular trip. PRESTO card holders save 88.3% for their 36th-40th trips, and 100% after that; the GO Train Service Guarantee can only refund you what you paid.
Q: I received a credit of zero dollars. What does this mean?
A: The GO Train Service Guarantee can only refund you what you paid for the trip. Passengers on their 41st+ trip within a month pay $0; the refund provided for these trips would be $0.
Q: I do not have access to the Internet or am unable to use the PRESTO claim site to make a claim. Can someone assist me with this?
A: A station ambassador at Union Station or customer contact representative will be able to assist you and make a claim on your behalf. Please visit us at Union Station or call us at 1.888.GET ON GO (438.6646) for assistance.
Q: My claim status says that “the trip information does not correspond to your PRESTO card’s trip history.” What does this mean?
A: The trip you selected when completing the online claim form does not match any trips recorded on your PRESTO card.
- - You tapped your PRESTO card earlier than 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure
- - You selected the incorrect trip when completing the form
- - You forgot to tap.
A couple of things may have happened: You may attempt to submit a claim again, and verify that the information is correct, or contact a station ambassador at Union Station or call us at 1.888.GET ON GO (438.6646) for assistance.
Q: Does getting a refund through the GO Train Service Guarantee affect my PRESTO loyalty status?
A: No, your PRESTO loyalty status is not affected by receiving refunds through the Service Guarantee.
Q: Can I use the fare refund on my PRESTO card with other agencies?
A: Yes, the refund on your PRESTO card simply updates your balance; feel free to use it with any participating transit agency.
Q: What is the amount refunded for a day or group pass?
A: For an eligible delay experienced while using a day or group pass, you will receive 50% of the price paid for the pass. The maximum refund for a day or group pass is the full purchase price of the pass, regardless of the number of delays experienced.
Q: How can I see the current status of my previous claims?
A: You will be able to view the status of active claims anytime in the ‘View Previous Claims’ section at the top of this page by entering your PRESTO card number or a claim number.
Q: Does the GO Train Service Guarantee site work on mobile devices?
A: Yes, the site should work on most modern mobile devices. There are some display issues with older versions of BlackBerry (OS 5.0 and older) and iOS (3.0 and older).