Today, I’m going to take you on a journey through the heart of Calgary, exploring the city’s beloved and reliable CTrain system. We will discover how this iconic transit network has shaped the city’s growth, connected its communities, and become an integral part of Calgary’s identity. From its humble beginnings to its current status as one of North America’s most efficient light rail transit systems, let’s discover this hidden urbanist gem and learn surprising facts that make the CTrain a true Calgary treasure.
Calgary was one of the first cities in North America to adopt Light Rail Transit (LRT) technology. Its innovative approach paved the way for other cities including Portland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis - St. Paul, Seattle, Ottawa, Toronto and many more.
Calgary’s CTrain earned a prestigious spot among the “10 Triumphs of Canadian Transportation”, as designated by the Transportation Association of Canada to recognize its success and impact on the city.
When the CTrain first opened in 1981, it had just eight stations. Today, the system has 45 stations across two lines, stretching over 59 kilometres / 36 miles.
About 45% of downtown workers in Calgary take the LRT to work. That’s huge considering that the national average for public transit commuters is around 10.1%. It happened naturally as Calgary grew and no freeways were allowed to be built in downtown, and most of surface parking lots were replaced with skyscrapers.
As a result, downtown parking became scarce and prohibitively expensive, with fees among the highest in North America. That’s when CTrain, an efficient and fast mode of transportation came in handy for many downtown workers.
And no freeways in downtown means stunning views, very little noise, and fresh air. Love this city!
Much of the LRT system functions as a light metro, while in downtown, trains run like modern trams with a dedicated right-of-way along the 7th Avenue called Transit Mall. It is the backbone of Calgary’s transit system and the busiest stretch of the CTrain, with over 30,000 passengers daily.
Did you know that riding the CTrain within the downtown core is completely free? It’s a very convenient perk that helps move people around that other cities should adopt as well. The rest of the network uses an honour system, where passengers are expected to purchase tickets from ticket machines or through the mobile app before boarding, with no fare gates to enforce payment.
Most CTrain stations and major bus terminals offer free parking, with only a few reserved spots requiring a fee. It’s a big draw for commuters as you can drive or bike to a train station.
Several CTrain stations have underground passageways and tunnels. Sunalta Station is a notable exception, the only one sitting above ground with its name paying homage to Alberta’s sunny reputation: “Sunny Alberta”.
Elevated 15 metres / 49 feet above ground level, equivalent to a five-story building, Sunalta Station offers striking views of Calgary downtown. A pedestrian bridge attached to the station is a great spot to catch a 2 km-long freight train operated by Canadian Pacific Rail.
Sunalta Station’s innovative design, developed by GEC Architecture, features a copper “platform tube” that shields commuters from north wind and south sun.
The CTrain’s design prioritizes separation from auto roads and pedestrian pathways, with few grade-level crossings, carefully managed through warning systems, gates, and pedestrian signals to maintain public safety.
Downtown Calgary’s transit mall features synchronized traffic signals to enable trains to move in unison between stations.
A section of the CTrain track passes underground beneath the new striking Calgary Central Library.
CTrain complements the Calgary’s extensive network of enclosed pedestrian bridges, known as “Plus 15” that spans over 18 km / 11 miles, connecting more than 100 buildings and 60 city blocks and providing sheltered access to major attractions, offices, and public transit regardless of weather.
During peak hours, CTrain runs every 5-10 minutes. That’s more frequent than in many major cities in North America.
The CTrain played a key role in Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympics, transporting athletes and spectators alike. Its success helped establish the city as a world-class host.
From its opening in 1981, the CTrain system have used Siemens-Duewag U2 trains, These iconic trains were originally designed for German metros, and used by the Frankfurt U-Bahn. Their quality is legendary, given the city’s extreme climate, where temperatures plummet below -40°C/F in winter.
I don’t know how many of the original vehicles remain in service today, but I saw quite a few train sets with them on a weekday.
The success of the first North American LRT systems inspired Siemens to build a light rail vehicle plant in Florin, California. Siemens now supplies one-third of North American light rail vehicles and has supplied over 1000 vehicles to 17 North American transit systems.
There are fours generations of Siemens trains in Calgary including the original U2s that are 45 years old today. The newest trains, Siemens S200 will eventually replace the old ones, however it may not happen for a while as a higher priority for Calgary is to increase train sets from three to four cars to bolster capacity at peak hours.
I appreciate how trains maintain a consistent temperature, retaining warmth in winter and coolness in summer, by doors only opening when manually activated via a push button.
While approaching each station, there is an announcement that says that doors normally open on the right (or left). So I guess it has an element of a surprise so stop using doors as a makeshift pillow, otherwise you can fall on tracks at any moment.
Many CTrain stations feature interesting public art installations that showcase Calgary’s vibrant arts scene.
Calgary’s CTrain has seen the biggest expansion of service in 2010s fueled by the oil boom in Alberta. However, Calgary is not only about oil and gas, it’s a modern and vibrant city that continues to grow, so I’m very glad that the CTrain system is continuing to expand with new stations planned including the brand-new Green line.
Impressive and beautiful photos