Calgary's CTrain system is a light rail transit (LRT) network with over 45 stations that serves as the city's primary public transportation system.  Referred to by locals as "CTrain" or "The Train", it averages over 100 million passengers per year.

Public Transportation With Eco Friendly Vehicles

Calgary Transit, owned and operated by the City of Calgary, is known for its efficiency and extensive coverage of city wide commutes.  Calgary Transit's mission statement - “Connecting you with people and places you care about by providing safe, accessible, reliable, and sustainable public transportation" also has a focus on shared environmental responsibility through its offering of  eco-friendly vehicles. The CTrain is one of the most environmentally friendly transit systems in North America, with much of its power coming from renewable energy sources, such as natural gas. This commitment to green energy reduces our city's carbon footprint and promotes sustainable urban living and healthier living conditions for city residents and visitors alike.

Two Main Lines

Red Line (Route 201)

The Red Line runs from the northwest community of Tuscany to the south end  of the city at the communities of Somerset-Bridlewood. This line passes through key areas, including the University of Calgary, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Jubilee Auditorium and the downtown core where you can find a multitude of business offerings and entertainment experiences.

Blue Line (Route 202)

The Blue Line stretches from the northeast community of Saddletowne to the southwest stations at 69th Street. It also travels through downtown Calgary, providing access to significant landmarks and connecting to the Red Line at multiple downtown stations. It primarily serves residential communities but allows access to shopping malls and recreation and fitness centers as well.

Park and Ride

Many stations offer park-and-ride facilities, making it easy for commuters to drive to a station and take the train the remainder of the route.  These park and ride lots are beneficial for several reasons:

Cost Saving: 

Parking at a Park and Ride lot and taking the CTrain can be more affordable than paying for parking in downtown Calgary.

Time Saving:

Save time by driving to a park and lot versus taking the bus from your home to the train station. Avoid the stress of driving in heavy traffic and finding downtown parking by using the CTrain for the final part of your commute.

Emissions Saving: 

Using public transit reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable city.

Of Note:  Some Park and Ride lots have a fee.

Operation Frequency and Fare Purchase

The CTrain operates from approximately from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM on weekdays, with slightly shorter hours on weekends and holidays.

Train Frequency::

During peak hours, trains run every 5-8 minutes, providing frequent and reliable service routinely. Off-peak frequency is typically every 10-15 minutes.

Ticketing and Fares:

Calgary uses a zone-free fare system, meaning one fare allows travel across the entire CTrain network. Tickets can be purchased at station vending machines, via the MY FARE mobile app, available on Google Pay or the App Store, or with a pre-loaded transit card. These machines accept cash and credit cards as well.

Passes:

Various passes, including day and monthly passes, are available for regular users, offering unlimited rides on Calgary Transit services, including both bus and CTrain services.

Tools and Resources

Trip planning App

This app will help you plan your journey from start to finish with step by step instructions to easily navigate you along the way.

Features of the Rider App include as noted on the Calgary Transit website include the following:

  • Transit Royale, providing in-app customizations and allowing customers to gamify their transit experience and compare their transit use with friends;
  • real-time, multi-modal trip planning that includes micromobilty (scooter/bike) options;
  • ability to locate and plan trips using Neuron and Bird shared e-scooters/e-bikes;
  • ability to locate and reserve carshare vehicles;
  • crowd-sourced data relating to the customer experience, such as even more accurate arrival times, transit stop accessibility and passenger mask use;
  • machine-learning to improve the customer journey and provide even more precise real-time arrival data;
  • and full access to the app in more than 300 cities worldwide, including Edmonton, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Montreal.
Future Calgary Transit Projects

Greenline 

While connecting with existing train lines, destinations for this line will include the South Health Campus Hospital and will integrate with a future rail connection for travelers to the Calgary International Airport.  Project timeline will run from 2024 to 2030 and upon opening, 55 000 daily riders will be expected.

Best reason to take "The Train"

Support the Calgary Flames at a home game in the iconic Scotiabank Saddledome.