I'm still going to wait for ridership stats to accumulate to next summer. But if the UPX can't achieve its ridership targets, there will need to be a serious discussion about it and what it's future should be.
I certainly concerned that this is supposed to be an express train, yet it takes 25 minutes and stops at Bloor (which seems intuitive) and Weston (which was merely appeasing local residents; not NIMBYs, as IMO they rightly fought against having their community divided, but they should have stopped short and only gave them the tunnel). Seems few people are utilizing these stops.
Looking on the horizon, we have two potential future upgrades to the UPX: electrification (which will reduce travel time) and a stop at Mt Dennis (increasing time). We also have rapid transit connections that are on Metrolinx's books: westerly extensions of the Eglinton Crosstown (f*ck the SmartTrack nonsense) and the Finch West LRTs, as well as BRT on the 427. This will undoubtedly eat into ridership, but it also makes the demands to transform UPX into local transit a mute point.
I think Metrolinx will have to buck up and get back to basics: this is an express link between Pearson and Union, Canada's two busiest transportation hubs. Cut out the stops between, electrify, and adjust the price to something more palatable. I think this has the potential to be 15-for-15: a non-stop 15-minute train ride for $15. And please, no stupid promo videos, just focus on wayfinding.