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This page was last updated   October 26, 2013
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Calgary Transit

LRT in
Calgary

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The LRT system in Calgary is known as the C-Train. Calgary Transit currently operates two LRT lines, known as the Crowfoot/Somerset-Bridlewood Line (Route 201, now called the Red Line) and the 69 Street/Saddletowne (Route 202, now called the Blue Line). The Red Line runs between Northwest Calgary and South Calgary via downtown, and Route 202 runs from West Calgary to Northeast Calgary via downtown.

The two routes are interlined along 7 Avenue downtown, where traffic is restricted to transit and emergency vehicles only. This section of both lines are fare free.

Contents

Toronto Comparison

Photo by Calgary Transit

The C-Train predates low floor technology, using high floor vehicles with high platform loading to accommodate accessibility.

While new implementations in Toronto will be low floor for accessibility, the C-Train does provide a good example of the ways that the right of way can be implemented:

System Highlights and Route Details

Item Notes
Number of lines 2
Total length 44.9 km
Total stations 42
  37 plus 7 one-direction platforms downtown
Right of way 5% grade separated
8% underground
Loading Platform at door level
93 cm above track
Fleet

82 Siemens-Duewag U2 (80 DC and 2 AC)
72 Siemens-Duewag SD-160
38 Siemens SD-160 NG (final delivery mid-2012)
High floor (99 cm above track) with steps
80 km/h top speed

U2 details Seats 64; 86 standees
24.4 m long
4 double folding doors per side, 1.3 m wide
SD-160 details Seats 60 - room for 113 standees
24.4 m long
4 sliding/plug doors per side, 1.3 m wide
Click here to see SD-160 brochure (4.4 MB)
Fare collection Self service, barrier free, proof of payment
Free fare zone downtown
Fare integration Fares same as bus fares
Transfers valid between each for 90 minutes
Airport service No direct service
20 minutes on route 57 bus from Whitehorn station

C-Train route map

7 Avenue Transit Mall (free fare zone)
Length 2.1 km
Photo by Aman Hayer
Both routes use 7 Avenue where traffic is restricted to transit and emergency vehicles only.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Alternating direction stations exist on each block of 7 Avenue.
Stations

9
  4 eastbound only
  3 westbound only
  2 both directions

Right of way 7 Avenue Transit Mal
Shared only with transit and emergency vehicles
Service frequency Combined Red and Blue Lines (see below)
Opening May 25, 1981
Station closings May 3, 2010
  4 St. SW and City Hall until 2011
  3 St SE permanently

Red Line - Crowfoot/Somerset-Bridlewood
Length 17.3 km South + 9.6 km Northwest
Stations

19 - plus 7 Avenue Transit Mall

Right of way South: Fenced right of way parallel to freight line
Northwest: Roadway median and exclusive
Service frequency 3-6 minutes rush hours (5:30-9 am, 2-6 pm)
10 minutes mid-day
10 minutes early evenings (until 9 pm)
15 minutes late evenings (until 1:30 am)
15 minutes early mornings (from 4:30 am)
Opening May 25,1981
  10.9 km south to Anderson
September 7,1987
  5.6 km north-west to University
August 31, 1990
  1.0 km north-west to Brentwood
October 26, 2001
  3.4 km south to Fish Creek/Lacombe
December 15, 2003
  3.0 km north-west to Dalhousie
June 28, 2004
  3.0 km south to Somerset/Bridlewood
June 15, 2009
  3.6 km north-west to Crowfoot

Blue Line - 69th Street/Saddletowne
Length 12.5 km
Stations

16 - plus 7 Avenue Transit Mall

Right of way Median of roadway with concrete barrier separation
Service frequency 4-7 minutes rush hours (5:30-9 am, 2-6 pm)
10 minutes mid-day
10 minutes early evenings (until 10:20 pm)
15 minutes late evenings (until 1:30 am)
15 minutes early mornings (from 4:30 am)
Opening April 29,1985
  9.8 km north-east to Whitehorn
December 17, 2007
  2.8 km north-east to McKnight/Westwinds
August 27, 2012
  2.9 km north-east to Saddletowne
December 10, 2012
  8.2 km west to 69 Street

 

Ride Descriptions

Corridor Notes Opened
Red Line From Crowfoot in the northwest to Somerset-Bridlewood in the south May 25, 1981
Blue Line From Saddletowne in the northeast to 69 Street in the west April 19, 1985

 

Red Line

Photo by page author
Train awaiting departure at Crowfoot station.

The trip on the Red Line from Crowfoot to Somerset-Bridlewood that takes approximately 52-55 minutes.

Photo by page author
View of Crowfoot station looking south from the eastern pedestrian overpass.
Photo by page author
South end driver cab view at
Crowfoot station.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Dalhousie Station as seen from the car park. A pedestrian overpass leads people to the station.

This line starts out in a median right of way of a limited access highway with island platform stations from Crowfoot to University.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Dalhousie Station Mall.

Photo by page author
Southbound train at
Dalhousie station.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Bus at Dalhousie.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Dalhousie Station's bike park holds up to 40 bicycles.

Many business located near Dalhousie Station as it brought in a significant amount of customers from around the city. Dalhousie Station Mall was constructed following the arrival of Dalhousie Station.

South of University, the line enters a tunnel to leave the median of Crowchild Trail (Northwest Calgary's main road to the city centre). The line leaves the tunnel just before arriving at Banff Trail, a station with side platforms and a pedestrian grade crossing at its north end.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Railway-type crossing at SAIT/A.C.A.D/Jubilee station.

The line then runs on a right of way adjacent to the street before taking a sharp turn into a tunnel to pass under the roadway and emerge at Lions Park station, a side platform station with pedestrian grade crossings at both ends.

The next stop is S.A.I.T./A.C.A.D./Jubilee (who's actual name is "Southern Alberta Institute of Technology/Alberta College of Art and Design/Jubilee Auditorium). This station has an island platform and a pedestrian grade crossing at the north end of the station.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Sunnyside station.

The next station is Sunnyside, a station with side platforms with a separate grade-level crossing at the south end of the station. Sunnyside was the most controversial station in the network. It was built in a neighbourhood very similar to Toronto's Annex known as Kensington or Sunnyside-Hillcrest. While initially very controversial, today Kensington has become a major commercial and residential hub for the city. The station itself was credited for brining life into the community. Today it would be equally, if not more controversial, to remove the station.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Intersection next to
Sunnyside Station.
Photo by Aman Hayer
The pdestrian crossing at Sunnyside Station.
Photo by Aman Hayer
U2 train departing
Sunnyside station.
Photo by page author
Southbound departing Sunnyside station.
Photo by page author
Level crossing located south of Sunnyside station just north of the bridge over the Bow River.
Photo by page author
The LRT bridge over the Bow River - note the pedestrian/cyclist bridge below the LRT level.

South of Sunnyside, the line ascends up onto a bridge across the Bow River, and into the downtown section, which this route shares with Route 202.

The bridge crossing the Bow River has a pedestrian walkway beneath the LRT level.

The 7 Avenue Transit Mall has staggered stations. This means that in each city block, there is a station that serves only one direction of travel, alternating each block. Traveling east, the stations are: 8 Street SW, 6 Street SW, 3 Street SW, Centre Street, and City Hall. The westbound stations are listed in the Route 202 description below.

Photo by page author
Northbound train stopped at 6 Ave SW after turned off the 7 Avenue Transit Mall.
Photo by Aman Hayer
LRV on the 7 Avenue
transit mall.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Centre Street station - buses use the transit mall, but do not serve the high-level platforms.
Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer
1st Street West station.

Photo by Aman Hayer
City Hall station.

Stations along the 7 Avenue Transit Mall have been or are being rebuilt to allow for future 4-car train operation. This rebuild resulted in the permanent closure of the 3 St SE station on May 3, 2010.

Photo by page author
Victoria Park Stadium station.

Photo by page author
Erlton Stadium station.

East of City Hall station, this line curves off 7 Avenue to the south and enters a tunnel. Once out of the tunnel, the line runs beside MacLeod Trail, to Victoria Park/Stampede station. This is the only stop with three platforms. Track A is southbound, Track B is northbound, and Track C is used after Calgary Flames hockey games and other events.

Photo by page author
Northbound train leaving Victoria Park Stadium station on Track B; Track C can be seen on the far side.

Photo by page author
Northbound train arriving at 39 Avenue station.

The line now continues down adjacent to MacLeod Trail, across the Elbow River, and to the south end of Stampede Park, and Erlton/Stampede station, an island platform station.

South of here, the right of way now enters the Cemetery Hill Tunnel and emerges in the north end of Calgary's industrial belt, and arrives at 39 Avenue, a station with side platforms.

Photo by page author
Southbound train departing Heritage station.

From here, the right of way joins the Canadian Pacific right of way on its west side, past factories, refineries and warehouses to Chinook.

Chinook, Heritage, Southland, and Anderson are all island platform stations with raised mezzanines at their north ends and grade crossing pedestrian exits at their south ends.

Photo by page author
Chinook station looking north.
Photo by page author
Heritage station looking north.
Photo by page author
Southland station looking south.
Photo by page author
Anderson station looking south.
Photo by page author  Photo by page author
Canyon Meadows station; northbound train arriving in right photo.

South of Anderson, the line rejoins the side of MacLeod Trail, then arrives at Canyon Meadows. With a small raised mezzanines and no pedestrian grade crossing, this station is designed to serve the residential area.

South of here, the line bridges over Fish Creek Provincial Park before arriving at Fish Creek-Lacombe.

Photo by page author
Fishcreek-Lacombe station.

The station's island platform is adorned with an old-west railway station design.

Photo by page author
Northbound at Fishcreek-Lacombe.

South of Fish Creek-Lacombe, the right of way continues alongside the CPR tracks.

Next is a a staggered platform station, Shawnessy. The two platforms are connected with a pedestrian grade crossing, which links the south end of the southbound platform and the north end of the northbound platform.

Photo by page author  Photo by page author
Shawnessy station - platforms are staggered and are long enough for a 4-car train.
Photo by page author
Somerset-Bridlewood station.

The next and final stop on the line is Somerset-Bridlewood. This island platform station has pedestrian grade crossings on both ends of the platform, with the crossover to the north of the station.

South of the station, the tracks cross Shawville Gate with short stub ends.

 

 

Blue Line

Photo by Aman Hayer
Photo by Aman hayer
McKnight-Westwinds station.

The trip on the Blue Line from Saddletowne to 69 Street takes approximately 45 minutes.

McKnight-Westwinds Station is situated at the intersection of Métis Trail and 64th Avenue. The station has an island platform. Unlike the other stations on the NE Line, McKnight-Westwinds is parallel to Métis Trial and is not in the median. The station has a 949 stall park and ride lot.

McKnight-Westwinds is part of a three part extension to the Northeast LRT. By the fall of 2012, the Northeast LRT will have two more stops, one in Martindale and another in Saddleridge/Saddletowne (the community itself is called Saddleridge but the city cites the new station as Saddletowne).

Photo by Aman Hayer
Abstract art at McKnight-Westwinds.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Pedestrian crossing and entrance.
Photo by Aman Hayer Photo by Aman Hayer
Other views of McKnight-Westwinds station.
Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer
Like Toronto, Calgary is a very multicultural city.  Due to the close proximity to the Gudwara (Sikh Temple) Dashmesh Cultural Centre Shaib,
and a new Shia Mosque, the city dedicated this to the history of immigrants in this city.

The LRT travels parallel to the Métis Trail where it run past the Oliver-Bowen Maintenance Facility. Once completed the facility will be able to hold an additional 65 LRVs. One and half minutes after it leaves reaches the McKnight Blvd and Métis Trail, where Métis Trail becomes 36th Street. Here, the LRT moves to median of 36th Street and travels for another minute and a half until it reaches Whitehorn Station.

The line continues in the median of 36 Street NW with island platform stations at Whitehorn, Rundle, and Marlborough. Whitehorn station has a raised mezzanines to the south end of the station. Rundle and Marlborough stations are of a similar design.

Photo by Aman hayer

South of Marlborough, the right of way leaves the 36th Street median through a tunnel, emerging onto another median on Memorial Drive. The next stations on Memorial Drive include Franklin and Barlow/Max Bell. Both of these have island platforms, and Barlow/Max Bell has an underground mezzanine.

Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer
Views of the line between Barlow/Max Bell and Zoo.

After Barlow/Max Bell, the line dips into the Bow River Valley and over Deerfoot Trail (an expressway), and curves to a stop at Zoo. As its name implies, this island platform, underground mezzanine station serves the Calgary Zoo.

Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer
Views of Zoo station and Memorial Drive.
Photo by Aman hayer
View from Bridgeland Memorial Station. New transit oriented development is occurring near this station.
Photo by Aman hayer
Near Bridgeland Memorial, the former Calgary General Hospital site is being used to build a a project called the Bridges Project.

The next stop is Bridgeland Memorial, serving the residential neighbourhood nearby.

West of Bridgeland/Memorial, the line now flies over a busy intersection between Memorial Drive and Edmonton Trail, crosses the Bow River, and enters the Downtown area. Merging with Route 201 coming out of the tunnel, the line now runs down the 7 Avenue Transit Mall. The first station in the downtown core is City Hall.

Photo by Aman hayer
A U2 westbound and a McKnight-Westwinds eastbound meet up at 3 Street.

Between City Hall station and 10 Street SW station, the Transit Mall has staggered stations. This means that in each city block, there is a station that serves only one direction of travel, alternating each block. The eastbound stations are listed in the Route 201 description above. Traveling west, the stations serving this line are: 1 Street SW, 4 Street SW, and 7 Street SW.

Photo by Aman hayer
A Sommerset/Bridlewood bound train passing by former Olympic Plaza station.

Originally, there was another westbound station, 1 Street SE. When Calgary was awarded the Olympic games, the decision was made to build an Olympic Plaza in front of City Hall for the medals presentation and the station was renamed Olympic Plaza. More recently, Olympic Plaza was closed at the same time as City Hall for reconstruction with 4-car length platforms, and the two single-direction stations were built as one station serving both directions, City Hall.

Photo by Aman hayer

This line continues west about a half a block beyond where Route 201 turns off to the northwest to the last transit mall stop Downtown West/Kerby. This station is located one block west of where the former terminal of the northeast line was at 10 Street. The name was giving because right next to the station is the Kirby Centre which is a major seniors social club in Calgary.

Photo by Aman hayer  Photo by Aman hayer
New signs have been installed to tell people which trains is next. There is also a PA announcement once the new train arrives, announcing its destination.

 

From Downtown West/Kirby, the LRT continues across to the the elevated track above the Shaw Millenium Park to the CP Row to Sunalta station (Calgary's first elevated station). This was the most controversial station on the whole line. It was controversial because the elevated structure was deemed hideous and people preferred an underground station.

Photo by Aman hayer
Shagganappi Point station.

From there the train continues elevated until it crosses Crowchild Trail/Bow Trail Interchange where it then continues at grade to Shagganappi Point station. This station is in the median of Bow Trial and is perhaps the most pedestrian accessible station on the system. It connects to the pedestrian crossing on the south end.

The train here continue at grade until it reaches the Westbrook Shopping Centre and it then goes underground to Westbrook station. Westbrook station is constructed on the site of the former Ernest Manning High School.

The LRT continues underground to 17th Avenue where it continues in a trenched ROW to 45th Street station.

It continues at grade where until Sarcee Trial/17th Avenue Interchange where it becomes elevated to cross Sarcee then continues at grade to Sirocco station.

From Sirocco station the LRT continues at grade until shortly after Simcoe Blvd SW where it enters a tunnel, where it moves to the other side of 17th Avenue and continues trenched to 69th Street station (Calgary's first trenched station).

Fares and Fare Collection

Photo by Aman Hayer
New style ticket vending machine.
Scan by page author
Day pass.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Old style ticket vending machine.

Fares are purchased from vending machines on platforms. Adult cash fare is $3.00 - tickets are available at 10 for $30 - a day pass is available for $9 and the monthly pass is $94.

An adult fare must be paid when bringing a dog on board, with the exception of service dogs.

Random fare inspections take place on the LRT. The fine for being caught without a valid fare is $150.

Photo by Aman Hayer  Scan by page author  Scan by page author

 

Accessibility

All stations in Calgary have high level platforms for level boarding of trains. All platforms are accessible with either ramps or elevators.

 

Other Notes

Photo by Calgary Transit
U2 LRV.
Photo by Aman Hayer
Photo by Calgary Transit
SD-160 LRV.
Photo by Aman Hayer

Calgary Transit's original fleet consisted of 83 Siemens U2 LRVs, purchased over three orders: 27 in 1981, 3 in 1983, and 53 in 1984. To date, three of these have been retired due to damage from accidents. The Government of Alberta purchased two AC traction U2 LRVs in 1988, first testing them in Edmonton, and then in Calgary in the summer of 1990. Calgary Transit purchased these for their fleet.

Photo by Calgary Transit
SD-160 NG LRV.

Starting in 2001, a total of 72 SD-160 LRVs were purchased over multiple orders: 15 in 2001, 17 in 2003, 33 entering service in November 2006, and an extension of that order by 7 in December 2007.

In November 2007, an order was placed for 38 LRVs. The new LRVs were Siemens SD-160 Series 8, but have received the designation SD-160 NG.

Photo by page author
Photo by page author

On May 3, 2010 the 3 Street SE station was closed permanently. This stop was a westbound-only stop, but was replaced when the City Hall stop, had a westbound platform added. The photos to the right were taken on April 27, 2010 - days before the closure.

Photo by Aman Hayer
Platform heating in a station shelter.
Photo by Aman Hayer  Photo by Aman Hayer
New livery of the SD-160 LRVs - Calgarians have affectionately nicknamed the new livery "Coca Cola Trains"

Current and Planned Expansion

A western extension for the West LRT to Aspen Woods is being considered.

Calgary LRT Network Plan (6.2 MB)

Other plans that are funded include:

Additional proposed plans include:

  • South LRT extension from Somerset-Bridlewood to Marquis of Lorne Trail.
  • New Southeast LRT line.
  • New North Central LRT line.

Click on the image to the left to see the details of the Calgary LRT Network Plan (6.2 MB).

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