View source for CTrain

{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=September 2024}}
{{Short description|Light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta}}
{{about|the Calgary, Alberta light rail system|the New York City Subway service|C (New York City Subway service)|other uses|C Train (disambiguation){{!}}C Train}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| box_width = auto
| name = CTrain
| image = Calgary S200.jpg
| caption = A [[Siemens S200]] at [[Saddletowne station]]
| owner = [[Calgary Transit]]
| locale = [[Calgary]], Alberta, Canada
| transit_type = [[Light rail]]
| lines = 2 (third under construction)
| stations = 45 (10 under construction)<ref name="figs" /><ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/content/PDF/ct-line-map-aug-2014.pdf |title=CTrain Map |work=Calgary Transit |publisher=City of Calgary |date=August 2014 |access-date=2015-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184742/http://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/content/PDF/ct-line-map-aug-2014.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|AB Calgary LR daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|AB Calgary LR annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.calgarytransit.com/|calgarytransit.com}}
| began_operation = {{Start date and age|1981|05|25}}
| vehicles = 
| headway = 
| train_length = 3 or 4 cars
| system_length = {{convert|59.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="figs" />
| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el = [[Overhead line]], [[600 V DC]]<ref>{{cite web |title=SD160 Light Rail Vehicle: Calgary, Canada |publisher=Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc |quote=Catenary supply voltage: 600 Vdc |url=http://www.mobility.siemens.com/shared/data/pdf/sts_usa_internet/calgary_sd160.pdf |year=2007 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026082202/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/shared/data/pdf/sts_usa_internet/calgary_sd160.pdf |archive-date=October 26, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| image3 = Westbrook LRT.JPG
| imagesize3 = 300px
| caption3 = Westbrook Station on the Blue Line
| imagesize = 300px
| map = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=CTrain.map}}
| Show interactive map
| [[File:Calgary Rapid Transit Network Map, CTrain Highlighted.png|300px]]
| Show static map
| {{CTrain|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}

'''CTrain''' (previously branded '''C-Train''') is a [[light rail]]  system in [[Calgary]], Alberta, Canada. Much of the system functions as a high-capacity [[light metro]], while in the downtown free-fare zone, trains run like a modern [[tram]] with a dedicated right-of-way. This subway-surface alignment is known as [[semi-metro]].

The CTrain began operation on May 25, 1981, and has expanded as the city has increased in population. The system is operated by [[Calgary Transit]], as part of the Calgary municipal government's transportation department.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Pages/Transportation-Department.aspx| title=The City of Calgary Transportation Department| work=City of Calgary (website)| date=March 21, 2011| access-date=2012-10-16| archive-date=June 6, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606164556/http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Pages/Transportation-Department.aspx| url-status=dead}}</ref>  In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|AB Calgary LR annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|AB Calgary LR daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}, making it one of the [[List of North American light rail systems by ridership|busiest light rail transit systems in North America]]. Approximately 45% of workers in [[Downtown Calgary]] take the CTrain to work.

== History ==
The idea for rail transit in Calgary originated in a 1967 Calgary transportation study, which recommended a two-line [[rapid transit|metro]] system to enter service in 1978.  The original plans had called for two lines:
*a northwest-to-south line (on a similar routing to the present-day Northwest and South lines) between the original Banff Trail station (at [[Crowchild Trail]] and Northland Drive, between the present-day [[Brentwood station (Calgary)|Brentwood]] and [[Dalhousie station (Calgary)|Dalhousie]] stations) and Southwood station (at Southland Drive, roughly at the location of the present-day [[Southland station (Calgary)|Southland station]], with five stations in downtown underneath 7 Avenue; and
*the west line, which ran from downtown to the community of [[Glendale, Calgary|Glendale]], primarily along the 26 Avenue SW corridor.
A third line, a north central line running from downtown to [[Thorncliffe, Calgary|Thorncliffe]] mostly along [[Centre Street (Calgary)|Centre Street]] was also envisioned but was thought to be beyond the scope of the study.

However, a building boom in the 1970s had caused the heavy rail concept to fall out of favour due to the increased costs of construction, with light rail as its replacement. Light rail rapid transit (LRRT) was chosen over dedicated busways and the expansion of the Blue Arrow bus service (a service similar to [[bus rapid transit]] today) because light rail has lower long-term operating costs and addressed traffic congestion problems. The Blue Arrow service ended in 2000.

The present-day CTrain originated in a 1975 plan, calling for the construction of a single line, from the downtown core ([[8 Street Southwest station|8 Street station]]) to Anderson Road (the present-day [[Anderson station (Calgary)|Anderson station]]). The plan was approved by City Council in May 1977, with the construction of what would become the C-Train's "South Line" beginning one month later. The South Line opened on May 25, 1981.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201021190616/http://www.calgarytransit.com/about-us/corporate-information/history History] Calgary Transit</ref> [[Oliver Bowen]], a descendant of original black settlers to [[Amber Valley, Alberta]] [[Obadiah Bowen]] and [[Willis Reese Bowen]], was the manager of the department that designed and built the original CTrain system.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/oliver-bowen-calgary-ctrain-black-history-month-1.6356918 |title=Black History Month: The legacy of Oliver Bowen, architect of Calgary's CTrain system |date=2022-02-20 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=[[CBC News]] |last=Kost |first=Hannah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.afrosinthacity.com/home/2021/12/17/ode-to-the-c-train-a-black-invention | title=Ode to the C-Train, a Black Invention | date=December 17, 2021 }}</ref> In 2009, the City of Calgary named its largest maintenance facility after Bowen to honour his work.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route Ahead: A Strategic Plan for Transit in Calgary (2013)|url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/content/PDF/2013-0118strategyaheadweb2.pdf|website=Calgary Transit|publisher=City of Calgary|accessdate=5 Feb 2017}}</ref> The Oliver Bowen LRT Maintenance Facility (OBMF) in northeast Calgary is a $6.5 million rail facility.<ref>{{cite web|title=Calgary Oliver Bowen LRT Maintenance Facility|url=http://www.pnrrailworks.com/transit-project/calgary-oliver-bowen-lrt-maintenance-facility|website=PNR Railworks|accessdate=5 Feb 2017}}</ref>

Though the South Line was planned to extend to the northwest, political pressures led to the commission of the "Northeast Line", running from [[Whitehorn station]] (at [[36 Street E (Calgary)|36 Street NE]] and 39 Avenue NE) to the downtown core, with a new downtown terminal station for both lines at [[10 Street Southwest station|10 Street SW]], which opened on April 27, 1985.<ref>Calgary Light Rail Expansion ''[[Pacific RailNews]]'' issue 263 October 1985 page 29</ref>

The Northwest Line, the extension of the South Line to the city's northwest, was opened on September 17, 1987, in time for the [[1988 Winter Olympics]].<ref>Interurbans Newsletter ''Pacific RailNews'' issue 289 December 1987 page 46</ref> This line ran from the downtown core to [[University station (Calgary)|University station]], next to the [[University of Calgary]] campus. Since then, all three lines have been extended incrementally, with most of the stations commissioned and built in the 2000s (with the exception of Brentwood which opened in 1990, three years after the original Northwest line opened).

In April 1996, Calgary Transit began piloting a [[commuter rail]] service between [[Anderson station (Calgary)|Anderson station]] and a temporary station located at 162 Avenue SW,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Siemens Regio Sprinter Calgary Transit |url=https://barp.ca/bus/alberta/ct/regiosprinter.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=barp.ca}}</ref> operating a rented [[Siemens]] [[RegioSprinter]] DMU which ran on CP Rail MacLeod Subdivision tracks. This pilot was intended as a short-term solution to road congestion for the rapidly growing commuter population in South Calgary and as an experiment to test the viability of a South Red Line extension.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transit History of Calgary, Alberta |url=https://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/calgary-ab.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=home.cc.umanitoba.ca}}</ref> A new temporary passenger platform was added on the CP Rail line adjacent to Anderson station. The RegioSprinter was travelled between this platform and a platform at 162 Avenue SW located just north of the present-day [[Somerset–Bridlewood station]]. This service was only in operation during peak hours and was free-of-charge. Service was discontinued after five months.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Cooper's Railway Pages - Upper Canada Railway Society (UCRS) and its publications |url=https://railwaypages.com/upper-canada-railway-society-ucrs-and-its-publications |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=railwaypages.com |edition=554th}}</ref>

The West Line, the extension of the Northeast Line, opened for revenue service on December 10, 2012, as the first new line to open in 25 years. The line runs for 8.2&nbsp;km from [[Downtown West–Kerby station]] on 7 Avenue at 11 Street SW at the west end of Downtown, westward to [[69 Street station (Calgary)|69 Street station]] located at the intersection of 17 Avenue and 69 Street SW.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ LRT extensions
! Date !! Stations !! Line
|-
| August 31, 1990 || {{Stl|CTrain|Brentwood}} || Northwest Line
|-
| October 9, 2001 || {{Stl|CTrain|Canyon Meadows}}<br />{{Stl|CTrain|Fish Creek–Lacombe}} || South Line
|-
| December 15, 2003 || {{Stl|CTrain|Dalhousie}} || Northwest Line
|-
| June 28, 2004 || {{Stl|CTrain|Shawnessy}}<br />{{Stl|CTrain|Somerset–Bridlewood}} || South Line
|-
| December 17, 2007 || {{Stl|CTrain|McKnight–Westwinds}} || Northeast Line
|-
| June 15, 2009 || {{Stl|CTrain|Crowfoot}} || Northwest Line
|-
| August 27, 2012 || {{Stl|CTrain|Martindale}}<br />{{Stl|CTrain|Saddletowne}} || Northeast Line
|-
| August 25, 2014 || {{Stl|CTrain|Tuscany}} || Northwest Line
|}[[File:69 Street C-Train 7993821569.jpg|thumb|69th Street station entrance.]]

== Lines ==
The CTrain system has two routes, designated as the {{lnl|CTrain|Red}} and the {{lnl|CTrain|Blue}}. They have a combined route length of {{convert|59.9|km|mi}}.<ref name="figs">{{cite web |year=2015 |title=About Calgary Transit / Facts and Figures / Statistics |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/statistics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617013846/http://www.calgarytransit.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/statistics |archive-date=June 17, 2017 |access-date=2015-07-17 |work=Calgary Transit |publisher=City of Calgary}}</ref> Much of the South leg of the system shares the right of way of the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] and there is a connection from the light rail track to the CPR line via a [[track switch]] near [[Heritage station (Calgary)|Heritage station]].

The longer route (Red Line; {{cvt|35|km|mi}} serves the southern and northwestern areas of the city. The shorter route (Blue Line; {{cvt|25.7|km|mi}} long) serves the northeastern and western sections of the city.<ref name="Technical">{{cite web |title=LRT Technical Data |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/technical_information.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115857/http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/technical_information.html/ |archive-date=2014-07-14 |work=Calgary Transit |publisher=City of Calgary}}</ref> Most track is at grade, with its own [[right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]]. The downtown portion is a shared right-of-way, serving both routes along the 7th Avenue South [[transit mall]] at street level. This portion is a [[zero-fare]] zone and serves as a downtown [[people mover]]. The tracks split at the east and west ends of downtown into lines leading to the south, northeast, west and northwest residential neighbourhoods of Calgary. Six percent of the system is underground, and seven percent is [[Elevated railway|elevated]].<ref name="Technical" /> Trains are powered by [[overhead line|overhead electric wires]], using [[pantograph (rail)|pantographs]] to draw power.[[File:Calgary LRT three-car train crossing Bow River northbound (2013).jpg|thumb|Older Ctrain model crossing the Bow River.]]In the first quarter of 2015, the CTrain system had an average of 333,800 unlinked passenger trips per weekday, making it [[List of North American light rail systems by ridership|the busiest light rail system in North America]].<ref name="APTA-Q1-2015">{{cite web |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2015 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2015-q1-ridership-APTA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622202452/http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2015-q1-ridership-APTA.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |access-date=2015-06-27 |publisher=[[American Public Transportation Association]] |page=31}}</ref><ref name="APTA-Q4-2013">{{cite web |date=February 26, 2014 |title=Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2013 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2013-q4-ridership-APTA.pdf |access-date=2014-07-24 |publisher=[[American Public Transportation Association]] |page=31}}</ref><ref name="INEGI">{{cite web |title=Banco de Información Económica – Instituto Nactional De Estadística Y Geografía – Comunicaciones y transportes |url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/bie/ |access-date=2014-04-17 |publisher=Instituto Nactional De Estadística Y Geografía (INEGI)}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=November 2016}} Ridership has declined slightly since reaching this peak, coinciding with a recession in the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2017 |title=Calgary Transit looking to bolster revenue in wake of falling ridership |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/05/13/calgary-transit-looking-to-bolster-revenue-in-wake-of-falling-ridership |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011233255/http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/05/13/calgary-transit-looking-to-bolster-revenue-in-wake-of-falling-ridership |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |website=Cagary Sun |df=mdy-all}}</ref>  In 2007, 45% of the people working in downtown Calgary took transit to work; the city's objective is to increase that to 60%.<ref name="Kom">{{cite news |last=Kom |first=Joel |date=January 2, 2008 |title=Residents forced to cope with growing traffic crunch – City confident it can handle growth |newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]] |url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/features/125/story.html?id=ec88c456-b458-409e-a263-f70a06c948e7 |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912034948/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/features/125/story.html?id=ec88c456-b458-409e-a263-f70a06c948e7 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Rolling stock ==
The system initially used [[Siemens-Duewag U2]] DC LRVs (originally designed for German [[rapid transit|metros]]), and used by the [[Frankfurt U-Bahn]]. The slightly earlier [[Edmonton LRT]], and the slightly later [[San Diego Trolley]] were built at approximately the same time and used the same [[commercial off-the-shelf]] German LRVs rather than [[bespoke|custom-designed]] vehicles such as were used on the [[Toronto streetcar system]] and the [[Vancouver SkyTrain]]. U2 vehicles constituted the entire fleet in Calgary until July 2001, when the first [[Siemens SD-100 and SD-160|Siemens SD-160]] cars were delivered.<ref name="Technical" /> Eighty-three U2 DCs were delivered to Calgary over three separate orders; 27 in 1981, three in 1983, and 53 in 1984 and are numbered 2001–2083. As of March 2020, 39 out of the original 83 U2 DCs remain in service, plus car 2090. The success of the first North American LRT systems inspired Siemens to build an LRV plant in [[Florin, California]]. Siemens now supplies one-third of North American LRVs and has supplied over 1000 vehicles to 17 North American systems.<ref>{{cite web |title=Light rail vehicles and streetcars |url=http://w3.usa.siemens.com/mobility/us/en/urban-mobility/rail-solutions/trams-and-light-rail/Pages/trams-and-light-rail.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512023232/http://w3.usa.siemens.com/mobility/us/en/urban-mobility/rail-solutions/trams-and-light-rail/Pages/trams-and-light-rail.aspx |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |access-date=May 7, 2016 |publisher=Siemens |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This will include 258 vehicles for Calgary when the current order of [[Siemens S200]] vehicles is completed.

{| class="wikitable"
|-align=center
! Fleet numbers !! Total !! Type !! Year Ordered
!Year Retired
!Number of units Retired
!Exterior
!Interior!! City of manufacture !! Notes
|-align=center
| 2001–2083, 2090 || 83 || [[Siemens–Duewag U2]] || 1979–1985
| Started 2016
|44
|[[File:Calgary Transit U2.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Calgary Transit U2 Interior.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Düsseldorf]], [[Germany]] || 1 unit formed from other units (see 2002)

Retired units are up to date as of March 24, 2020
|-align=center
|2101-2102
|2
|[[Siemens–Duewag U2]] AC: uses AC traction instead of DC traction.
|1988
|2016
|1
| [[File:CT U2-AC.jpg|100px|Calgary Transit U2 AC (#2101)]]
| [[File:Calgary Transit U2 AC Interior.jpg|100px|Interior of a Calgary Transit U2 AC (#2101)]]
|
Being former demonstration trains: only variants in the world.

Named Scout, 2101 is an asset inspection train for overhead lines and tracks.
|-align=center
| 2201–2272|| 72 || [[Siemens SD-100 and SD-160|Siemens SD-160 Series 5/6/7]] || 2001–2006
| -
| -
| [[File:CT SD160.jpg|100px]][[File:CT SD160 refurb.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:CT SD-160 Interior.jpg|100px|Interior of a Calgary Transit unrefurbished SD160 (#2212)]][[File:CT SD160 refurb interior.jpg|100px|Interior of a Calgary Transit refurbished SD160 (#2219)]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Florin, California]] || Retrofitted with air conditioning 2009–2011 in-house.

All to be refurbished by [[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]].
|-align=center
| 2301–2338|| 38 || [[Siemens SD-100 and SD-160|Siemens SD-160NG Series 8]] || 2007
| -
| 1
| [[File:Calgary Transit SD-160NG.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:CT SD-160NG Interior.jpg|100px|Interior of a Calgary Transit SD160NG (#2306)]]|| 2311 retired due to an accident (see below)
|-align=center
| 2401-2469|| 69 || [[Siemens S200]] || 2013–2018
| -
|
|[[File:Calgary Transit S200.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Calgary Transit S200 Interior.jpg|100px]]||
2401-2463 built and delivered between 2015 and 2019; 2464–2469, 2019–2020
|}

The following LRVs have been retired:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Retired Units
!Car Number
!Type
!Year Retired
!Reason
!Status
|-
|2001, (2002), 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2026, 2029, 2033–2037, 2040, 2042, 2043, 2045, 2049, 2052, 2055, (2064), 2065, (2066), 2067, 2069, 2072, 2074–2079, (2080), 2081, 2083.
| rowspan="8" |U2
|2016–present
|Retired as a result of newer S200 LRVs.
|Retired. Being salvaged for parts and scrapped.
|-
|2002
|May, 1981 / September, 2019
|Collided with car 2001 in May, 1981; A-end written off. B-end later received a new A-end and was retired at end of life in 2019.
|Retired; disposed of in 2020. A-end was scrapped, B-end was sold to a private owner, who is creating a piece of street-art using it as a part of a thesis project.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ctrain-car-art-1.5513891 | title=Decommissioned CTrain car a dream canvas for Calgary artist &#124; CBC News}}</ref>
|-
|2010
|March 27, 2002
|Collided with a truck at the 4 Avenue SW crossing as it was leaving the Downtown.
|Retired. Used as spare parts.
|-
|2019
|April 2007
|Collided with a flatbed truck in the intersection of Memorial Drive/28 Street SE near Franklin Station.
|Retired. One end is used as spare parts, the other end was combined with the good end of LRV 2027 to form LRV 2090.
|-
|2027
|May 2008
|Damaged when it hit a crane in the median of Crowchild Trail near Dalhousie Station
|Retired. One end is used as spare parts, the other end was combined with the good end of LRV 2019 to form LRV 2090.
|-
|2050
|October 2007
|Collided with a vehicle at the 58 Avenue SW crossing near Chinook Station.
|Repaired in 2010; currently active
|-
|2057
|Summer of 2009
|Damaged when it hit a backhoe that was being used in the construction of the new 3 Street W station on 7 Avenue.
|Retired. Used as spare parts.
|-
|2064, 2066, 2080<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cptdb.ca/topic/14428-ctrain-u2-cars-retirement-watch/|title=Calgary LRV 2066 Delivered to Edmonton|last=Panchyshyn|first=Corey|date=July 17, 2018|website=flickr|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref>
|Summer 2018
|
|Sold to Edmonton Transit Service after they were retired at end of life,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/49293569@N03/29664571738/in/photostream/|title=CTrain – U2 cars Retirement Watch|date=July 17, 2018|website=CPTDB|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref> used for parts, and have since been scrapped.
|-
|2101
| rowspan="2" |U2 AC
|Early 2016
| rowspan="2" |Taken out of service.
|Converted to track inspection vehicle (named SCOUT)
|-
|2102
|August 8, 2016
|Retired in early 2017. Used as spare parts for 2101, has since been scrapped.
|-
|2311
|SD-160NG
|September 20, 2016
|Departed Tuscany Station into the tail track, overshot the end of the rails crashing into the tail fence and a metal power pole.
|Retired, scrapped.
|}
Note: units in parentheses in the first row in the above table were retired at end of life, but are also listed in rows below.
[[File:S200 CTrain leaving City Hall Station.jpg|thumb|CTrain in the 8-stop tramway-style free-fare zone in Calgary's downtown financial district.]]
In 1988, the Alberta Government purchased from Siemens two U2 AC units, the first of their kind in North America, for trials on both the Edmonton and Calgary LRT systems. The cars were originally numbered 3001 and 3002 and served in Edmonton from 1988 to spring 1990. These LRVs came to Calgary in the summer of 1990 and in September, Calgary Transit decided to purchase the cars from the province and then applied the CT livery to the cars (they were previously plain white in both Edmonton and Calgary). They retained their original fleet numbers of 3001 and 3002 until 1999, when CT renumbered the cars 2101 and 2102. Initially, these two cars were only run together as a two-car consist as they were incompatible with the U2 DCs. In 2003, Calgary Transit made the two U2 ACs compatible as slave cars between two SD-160s and have been running them like this ever since.
[[File:Calgary Transit S200 Interior.jpg|thumb|Interior of a Siemens S200 CTrain.]]
In July 2001, Calgary Transit brought the first of 15 new SD-160 LRVs into service to accommodate the South LRT Extension Phase I and increased capacity. Throughout 2003, another 17 SD-160 LRVs were introduced into the fleet to accommodate the northwest extension to Dalhousie as well as the South LRT Extension Phase II. However, demand for light rail has exploded in recent years. In the decade prior to 2006, the city's population grew by 25% to over 1 million people, while ridership on the CTrain grew at twice that rate, by 50% in only 10 years. This resulted in severe overcrowding on the trains and demands for better service.<ref name="Guttormson">{{cite news | last = Guttormson | first = Kim | url = http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1448d5e5-c996-4ba8-83ec-e5fac45f02da&p=1 | title = Transit hit by 10% rise in riders – City struggles to provide service amid staff crunch | newspaper = [[Calgary Herald]] | date = January 20, 2007 | access-date = 2014-07-24 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221722/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1448d5e5-c996-4ba8-83ec-e5fac45f02da&p=1 | archive-date = September 23, 2015 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> In December, 2004, city council approved an order for 33 additional SD-160 vehicles from Siemens to not only address overcrowding, but to accommodate the northeast extension to McKnight–Westwinds and the northwest extension to Crowfoot. These new SD–160s started to enter service in November, 2006. In December 2006, CT extended the order by seven cars to a total of 40 cars, which had all been delivered by the spring of 2008. This brought the total of first-generation SD–160s to 72 cars numbered 2201 – 2272. These cars were all delivered without air conditioning, and retrofitted with air conditioning between 2009 and 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://kevinsbusrail.com/calgary_transit_c-train_sd1602001.html | title=C-Train Siemens-Duewag SD160}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://kevinsbusrail.com/calgary_transit_c-train_sd1602002.html | title=C-Train Siemens-Duewag SD160}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://kevinsbusrail.com/calgary_transit_c-train_sd1602006.html | title=C-Train Siemens-Duewag SD160}}</ref>

In November 2007 city council approved purchasing another 38 SD-160 Series 8 LRVs to be used in conjunction with the West LRT extension (2012) and further expansions to the northeast (Saddletowne 2012) and northwest legs (Tuscany 2014). These are new-generation train cars with many upgraded features over the original SD-160s including factory equipped air conditioning and various cosmetic and technical changes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/video/91196937001 |title=&#124; Calgary Sun |access-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427045338/http://calgarysun.com/video/91196937001 |archive-date=April 27, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> These units started to enter service in December 2010 and are numbered 2301–2338. As of May 2012, all had entered revenue service.

In September 2013, Calgary Transit ordered 63 S200 LRVs to provide enough cars to run four-car trains, and to retire some of its Siemens-Duewag U2s, which are nearing the end of their useful lifespans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Markusoff |first=Jason |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Calgary+Transit+cars+200M/8898525/story.html |title=Calgary Transit to buy 63 new LRT cars for $200M  |newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=September 11, 2013 |access-date=2013-09-15}}</ref><ref>[https://www.railjournal.com/regions/north-america/calgary-transit-unveils-first-siemens-s200-light-rail-vehicle/ Calgary Transit unveils first Siemens S200 LRV] ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' January 18, 2016</ref> Some of the 80 U2 cars were 34 years old, and all of them had traveled at least {{convert | 2000000 | km}}. The first of the new cars arrived in January, 2016 and delivery was expected take two years. The front of the new cars is customized to resemble a hockey goalie's mask, and they include such new features as heated floors for winter and air conditioning for summer. They also now have high-resolution video cameras covering the entire interior and exterior of the vehicles for security purposes.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 14, 2016 |title=New Mask CTrain car arrives |url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/news/new-mask-ctrain-car-arrives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602204408/https://www.calgarytransit.com/news/new-mask-ctrain-car-arrives |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |access-date=May 7, 2016 |website=Calgary Transit |publisher=City of Calgary}}</ref>

On November 18, 2016, Calgary Transit announced the retirement of the first CTrain LRV purchased, car 2001. Some of the Siemens Duewag U2 cars will be phased out as the new Siemens S200 cars come online.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgarys-very-first-ctrain-car-retires-after-2-5-million-km-career | title=Calgary's very first CTrain car retires after 2.5 million km career |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |last1=Klingbeil |first1=Annalise |date=November 17, 2016}}</ref>

=== Four car trains ===
In late 2015 Calgary Transit began operating four-car LRT trains on the CTrain system. The lengthening of trains was done to alleviate overcrowding as the system was already carrying more than 300,000 passengers per day, and many trains were overcrowded. The lengthening of trains increased the maximum capacity of each train from 600 to 800 passengers, so when enough new LRT cars arrived to lengthen all trains to four cars, the upgrade increased the LRT system capacity by 33%. Since the platforms on the original stations were designed to only accommodate three-car trains, this required lengthening most of the platforms on the 45 stations on the system and building new electrical substations to power the longer trains. To operate the new four-car trains, the city ordered 63 new cars, although 28 of them were intended to replace the original U2 LRT cars, which have as many as 2.8 million miles on them and are approaching the end of their service lives. Many of the older stations were also worn out by high passenger traffic, and the platforms needed to be rebuilt anyway.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 13, 2015 |title=Calgary Transit Launches Four-Car Service Early |url=http://calgarymayor.ca/stories/calgary-transit-launches-four-car-train-service-early |access-date=May 7, 2016 |publisher=The City of Calgary}}</ref> Throughout the pandemic, service was reduced to three-car trains. However, as of December 19, 2022, four-car trains are back in service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calgary's Red Line LRT to return to four-car trains - Calgary {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9352413/calgarys-red-line-lrt-return-four-car-trains/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Fares ==
{{Main|Calgary Transit#Fares}}
[[File:Ctrain ticket.jpg|thumb|A ticket purchased from a CTrain station.]]

Rides taken solely within the downtown are [[Free public transport|free]]; the rest of the network operates under a [[proof of payment]] system, with random fare inspections. As of 2022, the downtown area is known as the [[Toronto-Dominion Bank|TD]] Free Fare Zone and encompasses all CTrain stations along 7th Avenue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-downtown-free-fare-zone-renamed-amid-new-partnership-with-td-1.6178536 | title=Calgary's downtown free fare zone renamed amid new partnership with TD | work=Calgary | date=December 2, 2022 }}</ref> Fares and passes could be purchased from [[ticket vending machine]]s at any station. Coins, debit, and credit cards can be used at the machines, however bills cannot. Fares can also be purchased online through the MyFare app or at a Calgary Transit Customer Service Centre. Day passes and monthly passes can also be purchased. Day passes are valid until the end of service on the day of purchase and monthly passes are valid until the end of the month. Prices are reduced for seniors and students. Children under 12 years old can ride for free, as well as pets. Special low-income passes and senior annual passes are also available, and eligible post-secondary students enjoy unlimited access to the network through the U-Pass ([[universal transit pass]]) program.<ref>[https://www.calgarytransit.com/content/transit/en/home/fares---passes.html (Calgary Transit Fare and Passes page)]</ref>

== Route details ==
[[File:Calgary CTrain Map.png|thumb|400px|Calgary Light Rail System Map as of 2023]]
{{Main|List of CTrain stations}}
There are two light rail lines in operation: the Red Line running from the far southern to the far northwestern suburbs of Calgary (Somerset/Bridlewood–Tuscany), and the Blue Line running from the northeastern to the western suburbs (Saddletowne–69 Street). The routes merge and share common tracks on the {{convert|2|km}} downtown [[transit mall]] on 7th Avenue South, which also allows buses and emergency vehicles.<ref name="Technical" />

=== Downtown Transit Mall ===
As part of the construction of the original South leg, nine single-platform stations were built along the 7th Avenue South transit mall, which formed the 7th Avenue [[Free public transport|free fare zone]]. All nine stations opened May 25, 1981. The tracks run at grade in a semi-exclusive right of way, shared with buses, city and emergency vehicles. This is a free-fare zone intended to act as a downtown people mover. Fares are only required after trains exit the downtown core.

Westbound stations used to consist of Olympic Plaza (formerly 1 Street E, renamed in 1987), 1 Street W, 4 Street W, and 7 Street W. Eastbound stations consisted of 8 Street W, 6 Street W, 3 Street W, Centre Street and City Hall (formerly 2 Street E, renamed in 1987).

When the Northeast leg opened on April 27, 1985, two stations were added: 3 Street E serving Westbound Blue Line trains only and 10 Street W, a centre-loading platform, which served as the terminus of both Red and Blue lines, until the Northwest leg opened in 1987, after which it was the terminus for the Blue line only.

As part of Calgary's refurbishment project,<ref>[http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/7-Avenue-Refurbishment.aspx?redirect=/7avenue 7 Avenue calary.ca] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214000405/http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/7-Avenue-Refurbishment.aspx?redirect=%2F7avenue |date=December 14, 2012 }}</ref> 3 Street E and Olympic Plaza stations have been decommissioned and replaced by the new gateway<ref>[http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreation/Pages/Public-Art/Downtown-Gateway-LRT-Stations.aspx calgary.ca]</ref> City Hall station in 2011. 10 Street W was decommissioned and replaced with the Downtown West–Kerby (formerly called 11 Street W) station in 2012.<ref name="construction">{{cite web| url=http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Documents/7-ave-lrt-refurbishment/7-ave-lrt-10st-closure.pdf| title=Closure of 10 Street west downtown station| work=[[Calgary City Council|The City of Calgary (website)]]| access-date=2012-08-28}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==== Downtown station refurbishment ====
In June 2007, the City of Calgary released information on the schedule for the refurbishment of the remaining original downtown stations.<ref>{{cite web |last= Calgary Transportation Infrastructure |title= 7 Avenue Refurbishment |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2007 |url= http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_395_203_0_47/http;/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City%20Hall/Business%20Units/Transportation%20Infrastructure/Construction%20Projects/LRT/7%20Avenue%20Refurbishment/7%20Avenue%20Refurbishment.htm |access-date= 2007-12-22 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070824010101/http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_395_203_0_47/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City%2BHall/Business%2BUnits/Transportation%2BInfrastructure/Construction%2BProjects/LRT/7%2BAvenue%2BRefurbishment/7%2BAvenue%2BRefurbishment.htm |archive-date= August 24, 2007 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> The plan involved replacing and relocating most stations, and expanding Centre Street station which was relocated one block east (adjacent to the Telus Convention Centre) in 2000, to board four-car trains. The new stations have retained their existing names (with the exception of 10 Street W becoming Downtown West–Kerby in 2012); however, they may be shifted one block east or west, or to the opposite side of 7th Avenue. The refurbishment project was completed on December 8, 2012, when the [[Downtown West–Kerby station]] was opened to the public in conjunction with the West LRT opening event.<ref>[http://www.westlrt.ca/contentabout/openingevent.cfm West LRT Opening Event] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116021108/http://www.westlrt.ca/contentabout/openingevent.cfm |date=November 16, 2012 }}</ref>

*1 Street SW – new platform relocated one block east opened October 28, 2005.
*7 Street SW – new platform relocated one block east opened February 27, 2009.
*6 Street SW – reconstructed in original location. Original platform closed April 7, 2008 and new platform opened March 27, 2009.
*8 Street SW – new platform relocated one block east opened December 18, 2009.
*3 Street SW – reconstructed in original location. Original platform closed April 20, 2009 and new platform opened March 12, 2010.
*[[3 Street Southeast station|3 Street SE]] – permanently closed May 3, 2010. Replaced by new dual-platform City Hall Station opening July 6, 2011.
*4 Street SW – reconstructed in original location. Original platform closed January 7, 2010 and new platform opened January 21, 2011.
*City Hall – original Eastbound platform rebuilt with new Westbound platform to replace 3 Street E and Olympic Plaza. Original platform closed May 3, 2010 and new dual-platform station opened July 6, 2011. Olympic Plaza was closed permanently at this time. Eastbound platform re-closed following the [[Calgary Stampede|2011 Stampede]] to finish construction and officially opened September 19, 2011.
*Olympic Plaza – permanently closed July 6, 2011. Replaced by new dual-platform City Hall Station.
*{{stl|CTrain|10 Street}} – permanently closed and removed on September 15, 2012.<ref name="construction" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/10_station_closure.html|title=10 Street CTrain Station Closure|access-date=2012-09-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904094828/http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/10_station_closure.html|archive-date=September 4, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The new station replacing it, which opened on December 8, 2012, has dual side-loading platforms and is located one block west. This project was initially proposed to be undertaken in 2006, following the opening of the new 1 Street W station. However, the City of Calgary decided to defer the project to coincide with the opening of the West Line and continue on with refurbishment of the other stations. This new station was initially called "11 Street W" up until the Summer of 2012 when it was renamed to Downtown West–Kerby.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Documents/7-ave-lrt-refurbishment/7-ave-phase2-project-update.pdf| title=7 AVENUE REFURBISHMENT PROJECT UPDATE: DOWNTOWN WEST-KERBY STATION| work=[[Calgary City Council|The City of Calgary (website)]]| access-date=2012-04-04}}{{dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

This required that the stations be closed during demolition and reconstruction. The new stations feature longer platforms for longer trains, better integration of the platforms into the sidewalk system, better lighting, and more attractive landscaping and street furniture. This project was shortlisted<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=4289 |title=Transit Corridor Renewal (World Buildings Directory) |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209134311/http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=4289 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 }}</ref> for the New/Old category in the 2012 [[World Architecture Festival]] in [[Singapore]].<ref>[http://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/ World Architecture Festival Website]</ref>

=== Red Line ===
{{Main|Red Line (Calgary)}}
Also known as Route 201, this route comprises two legs connected by the downtown transit mall: the South leg ({{convert|17.3|km}}) and the Northwest leg ({{convert|15.7|km}}). There are eleven stations on the South leg and nine on the Northwest leg. Total length of the line: {{convert|33|km}}.<ref name="Technical" />

==== South leg ====
This was the first leg of the system to be built. Seven stations on this leg opened on May 25, 1981, as the first light railway line to serve the city. From north to south, they are {{stl|CTrain|Victoria Park/Stampede}} (renamed from Stampede in 1995), {{stl|CTrain|Erlton/Stampede}} (renamed from Erlton in 1995), {{stl|CTrain|39 Avenue}} (renamed from 42 Avenue in 1986), {{stl|CTrain|Chinook}}, {{stl|CTrain|Heritage}} (also the site of the Haysboro LRT Storage Facility), {{stl|CTrain|Southland}}, and {{stl|CTrain|Anderson}} (also the site of the Anderson LRT Yards). The original South line was 10.9&nbsp;km long. On October 9, 2001, the line was extended south 3.4&nbsp;km and two new stations were added: {{stl|CTrain|Canyon Meadows}} and {{stl|CTrain|Fish Creek–Lacombe}}, as part of the South LRT Extension Phase I. On June 28, 2004, Phase II opened adding 3&nbsp;km of track and two more stations: {{stl|CTrain|Shawnessy}} and {{stl|CTrain|Somerset–Bridlewood}}. A further three stations – Silverado (most likely in the area of 194th Avenue SW), 212th Avenue South, and Pine Creek (in the area around 228th Avenue SW) – are planned once the communities adjacent to their location are developed.<ref>{{cite web |author= Calgary Transit |title= Calgary LRT Network Plan |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2008 |page= 5 |url= http://calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |access-date= 2009-01-01 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091229191733/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |archive-date= December 29, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Red Line South Stations
!Stations
!Community
!Opened
!Rebuilt
!
!
!Former Names
|-
|[[Victoria Park/Stampede station|Victoria Park-Stampede Station]]
|[[Beltline, Calgary|Beltline]]
|1981
|2023
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|[[Victoria Park/Stampede station|Stampede Station]]
|-
|[[Erlton/Stampede station|Erlton-Stampede Station]]
|[[Erlton, Calgary|Erlton]]
|1981
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|[[Erlton/Stampede station|Erlton Station]]
|-
|[[39 Avenue station (Calgary)|39 Avenue Station]]
|[[Manchester, Calgary|Manchester]]
|1981
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|[[39 Avenue station (Calgary)|42 Avenue Station]]
|-
|[[Chinook station|Chinook Station]]
|[[Manchester, Calgary|Manchester]]
|1981
|2014
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Heritage station (Calgary)|Heritage Station]]
|[[Haysboro, Calgary|Haysboro]]
|1981
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Southland station (Calgary)|Southland Station]]
|[[Southwood, Calgary|Southwood]]
|1981
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Anderson station (Calgary)|Anderson Station]]
|[[Southwood, Calgary|Southwood]]
|1981
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Canyon Meadows station|Canyon Meadows Station]]
|[[Canyon Meadows, Calgary|Canyon Meadows]]
|2001
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Fish Creek–Lacombe station|Fish Creek–Lacombe Station]]
|[[Shawnee Slopes, Calgary|Shawnee Slopes]]
|2001
|
|Mixed
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Shawnessy station|Shawnessy Station]]
|[[Shawnessy, Calgary|Shawnessy]]
|2003
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Somerset–Bridlewood station|Somerset-Bridlewood Station]]
|[[Somerset, Calgary|Somerset]]
|2003
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|}

==== Northwest leg ====
This was the third leg of the system to be built. Five stations on this leg opened on September 7, 1987. From the most central to the most northwesterly, they are {{stl|CTrain|Sunnyside}}, {{stl|CTrain|SAIT/AUArts/Jubilee}} (the station name in full is "[[Southern Alberta Institute of Technology]]/[[Alberta University of the Arts]]/[[Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium|Jubilee Auditorium]]"), {{stl|CTrain|Lions Park}}, {{stl|CTrain|Banff Trail}}, and {{stl|CTrain|University}}. The original Northwest leg was 5.6&nbsp;km long. On August 31, 1990, the line was extended 1&nbsp;km and {{stl|CTrain|Brentwood}} station was opened as the new terminus. On December 15, 2003, the line was extended 3&nbsp;km again and {{stl|CTrain|Dalhousie}} station was opened. On June 15, 2009, the line was extended 3.6&nbsp;km and {{stl|CTrain|Crowfoot}} (formerly Crowfoot-Centennial) was opened. It was extended further by 2.5&nbsp;km to {{stl|CTrain|Tuscany}} Station on August 25, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last= Calgary Transportation Infrastructure |title=  Northwest LRT Extension – Dalhousie CTrain Station to Crowfoot CTrain Station |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2007 |url= http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_771_203_0_43/http;/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City%20Hall/Business%20Units/Transportation%20Infrastructure/Construction%20Projects/LRT/Northwest%20LRT%20Extension/Northwest%20LRT%20Extension.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212054/http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_771_203_0_43/http;/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City%20Hall/Business%20Units/Transportation%20Infrastructure/Construction%20Projects/LRT/Northwest%20LRT%20Extension/Northwest%20LRT%20Extension.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2007-09-30 |access-date= 2007-12-22}}</ref><ref name="CCMinutes20071106">{{cite web |last= Calgary City Council |title= Minutes of Calgary City Council special meeting of 06 November 2007 |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2007 |format= [[MS Word]] |url= http://publicaccess.calgary.ca/lldm01/livelink.exe?func=ccpa.general&msgID=IeqqTregrD&msgAction=download |access-date= 2007-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/Northwest-LRT-Extension-to-Rocky-Ridge---Tuscany.aspx| title=Northwest LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge/Tuscany| work=City of Calgary (website)| access-date=2012-08-28| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824224447/http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/Northwest-LRT-Extension-to-Rocky-Ridge---Tuscany.aspx| archive-date=August 24, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Red Line Northwest Stations
!Stations
!Community
!Opened
!Rebuilt
!
!
!Former Names
|-
|[[Sunnyside station (Calgary)|Sunnyside Station]]
|[[Sunnyside, Calgary|Sunnyside]]
|1987
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[SAIT/AUArts/Jubilee station|SAIT-AUArts-Jubilee Station]]
|[[Hillhurst, Calgary|Hillhurst]]
|1987
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Lions Park station|Lions Park Station]]
|[[Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill|Hounsfield Heights-Briar Hill]]
|1987
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Banff Trail station|Banff Trail Station]]
|[[Banff Trail, Calgary|Banff Trail]]
|1987
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[University station (Calgary)|University Station]]
|[[Banff Trail, Calgary|Banff Trail]]
|1987
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Brentwood station (Calgary)|Brentwood Station]]
|[[Brentwood, Calgary|Brentwood]]
|1990
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Dalhousie station (Calgary)|Dalhousie Station]]
|[[Dalhousie, Calgary|Dalhousie]]
|2003
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Crowfoot station|Crowfoot Station]]
|[[Arbour Lake, Calgary|Arbour Lake]]
|2008
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Tuscany station|Tuscany Station]]
|[[Tuscany, Calgary|Tuscany]]
|2014
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|[[Tuscany station|Tuscany-Rocky Ridge Station]]
|}

=== Blue Line ===
{{Main|Blue Line (Calgary)}}
Also known as Route 202, this route is composed of two legs connected by the downtown transit mall: the Northeast leg ({{convert|15.5|km}}) and the newer West leg ({{convert|8.2|km}}). The Northeast leg has ten stations and the West leg has six stations. Total length of this route: {{convert|25.7|km}}.<ref name="Technical" />

==== Northeast leg ====
This was the second leg of the system to be built. Seven stations opened on April 27, 1985, from downtown to the northeast. They are: {{stl|CTrain|Bridgeland/Memorial}}, {{stl|CTrain|Zoo}}, {{stl|CTrain|Barlow/Max Bell}}, {{stl|CTrain|Franklin}}, {{stl|CTrain|Marlborough}}, {{stl|CTrain|Rundle}}, and {{stl|CTrain|Whitehorn}}. The original Northeast line was 9.8&nbsp;km long. On December 17, 2007, the line was extended 2.8&nbsp;km further north to an eighth station – {{stl|CTrain|McKnight–Westwinds}}. On August 27, 2012, another 2.9&nbsp;km extension of track opened and added two more stations – {{stl|CTrain|Martindale}} and {{stl|CTrain|Saddletowne}}.<ref name="CCMinutes20071106" /><ref name=2007WestLRT>{{cite report |author= Calgary Transportation Planning |title= 2007 West LRT Report |publisher= City of Calgary |date= November 20, 2007 |url= http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/west_lrt_2007_report.pdf |access-date= 2007-12-22 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024618/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/west_lrt_2007_report.pdf |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/2012-1575%20NE%20LRT%20Riders%20Guide_FINAL.pdf Saddletowne and Martindale Rider's Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831220443/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/2012-1575%20NE%20LRT%20Riders%20Guide_FINAL.pdf |date=August 31, 2012 }}</ref> Additional stations are proposed for development, likely beyond 2023, at 96th Avenue, [[Country Hills Boulevard]], 128th Avenue (north of Skyview Ranch) and [[Stoney Trail]] (in the Stonegate Landing development),<ref name=2007WestLRT /> as those areas are developed for future LRT infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |author= Calgary Transit |title= Calgary LRT Network Plan |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2008 |page= 6 |url= http://calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |access-date= 2009-01-01 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091229191733/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |archive-date= December 29, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Blue Line Northeast Stations
!Stations
!Community
!Opened
!Rebuilt
!
!
!Former Names
|-
|[[Bridgeland/Memorial station|Bridgeland-Memorial Station]]
|[[Bridgeland/Riverside, Calgary|Bridgeland-Riverside]]
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Zoo station (Calgary)|Zoo Station]]
|[[Bridgeland/Riverside, Calgary|Bridgeland-Riverside]]
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Barlow/Max Bell station|Barlow-Max Bell Station]]
|Mayland Industrial
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Franklin station (Calgary)|Franklin Station]]
|[[Albert Park/Radisson Heights|Albert Park-Radisson Heights]]
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Marlborough station|Marlborough Station]]
|[[Marlborough, Calgary|Marlborough]]
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Rundle station|Rundle Station]]
|[[Rundle, Calgary|Rundle]]
|1985
|
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Whitehorn station|Whitehorn Station]]
|[[Whitehorn, Calgary|Whitehorn]]
|1985
|2011
|Indoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[McKnight–Westwinds station|McKnight-Westwinds Station]]
|Westwinds
|2007
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Martindale station|Martindale Station]]
|[[Martindale, Calgary|Martindale]]
|2012
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Saddletowne station|Saddletowne Station]]
|[[Saddle Ridge, Calgary|Saddle Ridge]]
|2012
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|}

==== West leg ====
This was the fourth leg of the system to be built, although it was included in the original plans for the system.<ref>{{cite report |author= Calgary Transportation Department |title= West LRT Functional Study |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 1983 |url= http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/West_LRT_Report_1983_Consolidation.pdf |access-date= 2007-12-22 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024558/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/West_LRT_Report_1983_Consolidation.pdf |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> It was built last because it was anticipated to have lower ridership and higher construction costs than the previous legs. Construction of the 8.2 kilometre<ref>{{cite web|title=West LRT Project Booklet|publisher=City of Calgary|access-date=6 June 2012|url=http://www.westlrt.ca/files/2010-0061West%20LRT%20Project%20in%20Review-%20booklet.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404022241/http://www.westlrt.ca/files/2010-0061West%20LRT%20Project%20in%20Review-%20booklet.pdf|archive-date=April 4, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> (5 mile) leg began in 2009. It opened on December 10, 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/West+line+will+open+schedule+city+says/7513159/story.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208162551/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/West+line+will+open+schedule+city+says/7513159/story.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 8, 2012| title=West LRT line will open December 10, 2012 on schedule, city says| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| date=November 7, 2012| access-date=2012-11-07}}</ref>

The City of Calgary began a review process in late 2006 to update the plans to current standards, and Calgary City Council gave final approval to the project<ref>{{cite news |last= [[CBRT-DT|CBC Calgary]] |title= Council confirms route for C-Train's west line |publisher= [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date= November 20, 2007 |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/council-confirms-route-for-c-train-s-west-line-1.653828 |access-date= 2007-12-22}}</ref> and allocated the required $566-million project funding on November 20, 2007.<ref name="CCMinutes20071106" /> Funding for the project was sourced from the infrastructure fund that was created when the province of Alberta returned the education tax portion of property taxes to the city. Construction of this leg began in 2009. It was constructed at the same time as further extensions of the NE and NW lines of the LRT system that were approved in November 2007.
[[File:CTrain SW construction1.jpg|thumb|right|West LRT construction over [[Bow Trail]] ]]

The West LRT leg<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/West-LRT.aspx?redirect=/westlrt| title=West LRT (City of Calgary website)| work=City of Calgary| access-date=2013-03-23| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410025841/http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/West-LRT.aspx?redirect=/westlrt| archive-date=April 10, 2013| df=mdy-all}}</ref> has six stations (from east to west): {{stl|CTrain|Sunalta}} (near 16th Street SW), {{stl|CTrain|Shaganappi Point}}, {{stl|CTrain|Westbrook}}, {{stl|CTrain|45 Street}} (Westgate), {{stl|CTrain|Sirocco}}, and {{stl|CTrain|69 Street}} (west of 69th Street near Westside Recreation Centre).

The updated alignment from the 2007 West LRT Report<ref name=2007WestLRT /> includes the line running on an elevated guideway beginning west of the Downtown West–Kerby Station, running along the CPR right of way to Bow Trail SW, and then to 24th Street SW. The line then runs at grade past Shaganappi Point Station and drops into a tunnel to 33rd Street SW. The tunnel then runs under the [[Westbrook Mall]] parking lot, and the former site of the now-demolished Ernest Manning Senior High School. The line then follows the north side of 17th Avenue SW past 37th Street SW below grade to 45 Street station. Past 45th Street the line runs at grade, and approaching Sarcee Trail SW moves onto an elevated guideway that passes over the freeway. The line then runs at grade to Sirocco Station, then proceeds to drop below grade and pass under eastbound 17th Avenue SW at 69th Street SW and return to grade on the south side of the avenue. The line then terminates at 69 Street Station located to the west of 69th Street SW.<ref name="West LRT Map">{{cite map |publisher= City of Calgary |title= West LRT Map |url= http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/west_lrt_mrc_roadnet_reference_areas.pdf |format= PDF |edition= 2007 |access-date= 2007-12-22 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024628/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/west_lrt_mrc_roadnet_reference_areas.pdf |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

Three of the new West leg stations are located at grade. {{stl|CTrain|Westbrook}}, {{stl|CTrain|45 Street}},<ref>{{cite news |author= Guttormson, Kim |title= West LRT leg headed below ground after council vote |work= Calgary Herald |publisher= [[CICT-DT|Global Calgary]] |date= October 5, 2009 |url= http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/west+lrt+leg+headed+below+ground+after+council+vote/65582/story.html |access-date= December 8, 2011}}</ref> and {{stl|CTrain|69 Street}} stations are located below grade, while {{stl|CTrain|Sunalta}} is an elevated station.<ref>{{cite web |author=Calgary Transit |title=West LRT – Route Map |publisher=City of Calgary |year=2008 |url=http://www.westlrt.ca/contentabout/routemap.cfm |format=[[Adobe Flash|Flash]] |access-date=2009-06-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005162546/http://www.westlrt.ca/contentabout/routemap.cfm |archive-date=October 5, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> On October 5, 2009, the city council announced approval of a plan to put a portion of the West leg into a trench at 45th Street and 17th Avenue SW, a move welcomed by advocates who fought to have it run underground.  The change cost an estimated $61&nbsp;million; however, lower-than-expected construction costs were expected to absorb much of the change.

The cost for the project is, however, [[Cost overrun|over budget]] by at least [[Canadian dollar|C$]]35 million<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-s-west-lrt-project-35m-over-budget-1.1193095| title=Calgary's West LRT project $35M over budget| work=[[CBC News]]| date=May 16, 2012| access-date=2012-05-25}}</ref> and the overall cost could be more than [[Canadian dollar|C$]]1.46 billion because of soaring costs of land used and the integration of public art into the project.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Soaring+west+costs+threatening+keep+rising/5722391/story.html| title=Soaring west LRT costs hit $1.46B — and threatening to keep rising| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Richard| last=Cuthbertson| date=November 16, 2011| access-date=2011-11-17| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118052607/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Soaring+west+costs+threatening+keep+rising/5722391/story.html| archive-date=November 18, 2011| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/energy-resources/Nenshi+fears+rising+cost+land+acquisition+west/5934641/story.html| title=Nenshi fears rising cost of land acquisition for west LRT| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Richard| last=Cuthbertson| date=January 2, 2012| access-date=2012-01-03}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Public%20art,%20land%20costs%20strain%20west%20LRT%20tab/6609387/story.html| title=Public art, land costs strain west LRT tab (Likely to eat into funds earmarked for southeast transit)| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Jason| last=Markusoff| date=May 12, 2012| access-date=2012-05-14| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515082333/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Public%20art%2C%20land%20costs%20strain%20west%20LRT%20tab/6609387/story.html| archive-date=May 15, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref> The public art aspect of the project was neglected in its initial form. Because City Hall regulations for big construction projects require incorporation of public art, City Hall had to find the money. Therefore, the West LRT project cost C$8.6 million more than expected.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-city-council-commits-to-art-along-west-lrt-line-1.1155293| title=Calgary city council commits to art along west LRT line| work=[[CBC News]]| date=May 28, 2012| access-date=2012-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/City+finds+money+from+other+projects+west+public/6691370/story.html| title=City finds money from other projects to pay for west LRT public art| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Jason| last=Markusoff| date=May 28, 2012| access-date=2012-06-04| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601112820/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/City+finds+money+from+other+projects+west+public/6691370/story.html| archive-date=June 1, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On October 29, 2009, city council announced that the contract to construct the West LRT had been awarded to a consortium led by [[SNC Lavalin]].<ref>{{citation|title=Mayor Bronconnier Announces Design-Build Award|url=http://www.westlrt.ca/contentdesign/industry_news.cfm|publisher=[[Calgary|City of Calgary]]|date=October 29, 2009|access-date=June 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005182244/http://www.westlrt.ca/contentdesign/industry_news.cfm|archive-date=October 5, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Future extension of the West leg to Aspen Woods Station (around 17th Avenue and 85th Street SW) has been planned, and future extensions further west to 101st Street SW may be added as new communities adjacent to 17th Avenue SW are built.<ref name="West LRT Map" />

On May 15, 2012, testing of the leg began with two LRT cars. As the construction of the leg moved towards completion, four LRT cars were used, until revenue service began on December 10, 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/trains-being-tested-on-west-lrt-line-1.1205094| title=Trains being tested on West LRT line| work=[[CBC News]]| date=May 15, 2012| access-date=2012-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/test-trains-hit-the-tracks-1.809931| title=Test trains hit the tracks| work=[[CFCN-DT|CTV Calgary]]| date=May 15, 2012| access-date=2012-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Test+train+begins+rolling+billion+west+line/6626254/story.html| title=Test train begins rolling on $1.4-billion west LRT line (New line expected to open by March 2013)| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Jason| last=Markusoff| date=May 15, 2012| access-date=2012-05-16| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517024534/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Test+train+begins+rolling+billion+west+line/6626254/story.html| archive-date=May 17, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/city+tests+first+train+on+west+lrt+tracks/6442641863/story.html| title=City tests first train on West LRT tracks| work=[[CICT-DT|Global Calgary]]| first=Melissa| last=Ramsey| date=May 15, 2012| access-date=2012-05-16}}</ref>

In its first year of service, 69 Street served an average of 32,400 boardings per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/reports/west_lrt_one_year_review.pdf#page=23 |page=23 |title=West LRT One Year Review |format=pdf |year=2014 |access-date=January 19, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505064147/http://www.calgarytransit.com/sites/default/files/reports/west_lrt_one_year_review.pdf |archive-date = May 5, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Blue Line West Stations
!Stations
!Community
!Opened
!Rebuilt
!
!
!Former Names
|-
|[[Downtown West–Kerby station|Downtown West–Kerby Station]]
|[[Downtown Calgary|Downtown West End]]
|1985
|2012
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|[[10 Street Southwest station|10 Street SW Station]]
|-
|[[Sunalta station|Sunalta Station]]
|[[Sunalta, Calgary|Sunalta]]
|2012
|
|Indoor
|Elevated
|
|-
|[[Shaganappi Point station|Shaganappi Point Station]]
|[[Shaganappi, Calgary|Shaganappi]]
|2012
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Westbrook station (Calgary)|Westbrook Station]]
|[[Rosscarrock]]
|2012
|
|Indoor
|Underground
|
|-
|[[45 Street station (Calgary)|45 Street Station]]
|[[Westgate, Calgary|Westgate]]
|2012
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[Sirocco station|Sirocco Station]]
|[[Christie Park, Calgary|Christie Park]]
|2012
|
|Outdoor
|At-Grade
|
|-
|[[69 Street station (Calgary)|69 Street Station]]
|[[Aspen Woods, Calgary|Aspen Woods]]
|2012
|
|Mixed
|Trench
|
|}

== Future plans ==
[[File:Calgary Rapid Transit Network Map, CTrain Highlighted.png|thumb|Proposed route extensions and Green Line (North-Central and Southeast LRT)]]
In 2011, Calgary City Council directed that a long term Calgary Transit Plan be created, taking into account the overall Calgary Transportation Plan.<ref name=RouteAhead>{{cite web |url=https://www.calgarytransit.com/plans-projects/plans |title=RouteAhead: A Strategic Plan for Transit in Calgary |work=RouteAhead Planning Committee |publisher=[[Calgary Transit]] |date=2012-12-07 |access-date=2017-09-13}}</ref><ref name=RouteAheadNews>{{Cite news |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/calgary+transit+releases+routeahead+plan/7668659/story.html |title=Calgary Transit releases RouteAhead plan |last=Markusoff |first=Jason |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=2012-12-07 |access-date=2017-09-13}}</ref>  A steering committee and project team, comprising some Council members, City planning staff, independent business people and Calgary Transit staff, after detailed scenario planning and extensive public consultation, produced the December 2012 "RouteAhead: A Strategic Plan for Transit in Calgary".<ref name=RouteAhead /><ref name=RouteAheadNews />  A 30-year roadmap for public transit in Calgary, RouteAhead includes a long-term vision for the CTrain system.  The RouteAhead plan was submitted to Council and approved in early 2013.<ref name=RouteAheadNews />

=== Existing Lines ===
For the Red Line, in its 30-year RouteAhead plan, the South line may be extended another 3.5&nbsp;km to a possible 210 Avenue SW station.<ref>[http://www.routeahead.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Route-Ahead-Section-4.pdf RouteAhead Section 4; Page 53] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224003209/http://www.routeahead.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Route-Ahead-Section-4.pdf |date=December 24, 2012 }}</ref>

For the Blue Line, from the same plan, there are more possible extensions to the northeast to either [[Calgary International Airport]] (via a spur line),<ref name="Extension">{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Airport+link+moves+list+transit+year+priorities/7262588/story.html| title=Airport link moves up on list of transit's 30-year priorities| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Jason| last=Markusoff| date=October 1, 2012| access-date=2012-10-15| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924005548/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Airport+link+moves+list+transit+year+priorities/7262588/story.html| archive-date=September 24, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref> or to 128 Avenue NE, or to have both.<ref name="Future">{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+Transit+presents+council+with+billion+blueprint/7256350/story.html| title=Calgary Transit presents council with $8-billion blueprint for future| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Sherri| last=Zickefoose| date=October 1, 2012| access-date=2012-10-15| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106234815/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+Transit+presents+council+with+billion+blueprint/7256350/story.html| archive-date=November 6, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref> There is also a long-term plan in RouteAhead that says the Blue Line will be extended past Stony Trail.

There are plans to build an additional line to the southeast from the city centre. Calgary Transit has drafted a plan for a transit-only right-of-way, known as the SETWAY (South East Transit Way) for the interim.<ref name="calgarytransit.com">[http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/setway.html Calgary Transit: Southeast Transitway (SETWAY)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210075536/http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/setway.html |date=February 10, 2012 }}</ref> A second, northern line is to be planned beyond 2023 but the alignment is still pending.

As for a possible underground leg in downtown (under 8 Avenue South), the cost of the project will be at least C$800 million (in 2012 dollars), but its priority has been lowered because there is no funding available for it. However, the overall cost of this and other projects could be at least C$8 billion.<ref name="Extension" /><ref name="Future" />

=== Green Line ===
{{Main|Green Line (Calgary)}}
{{Green Line (Calgary)|inline=}}
This potential route may cross the downtown core at right angles to the downtown transit mall and connect two new legs: the Southeast leg and the North-Central leg. To avoid capacity constraints on the existing downtown transit mall, it was designed as a separate line, running underground for 4 stations through [[Downtown Calgary|downtown]] and the [[Beltline, Calgary|Beltline neighbourhood]]. It will feature a connection to the Red and Blue lines at [[7 Avenue SW station]].

The  Green Line may stretch from 16th Avenue North through the downtown core into the Southeast to the future Shepard Station at 126th Avenue SE. The $4.6 billion cost of the project will be shared in roughly equal portions between the federal government, the city of Calgary and the provincial government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/lrt-province-funding-announcement-ctrain-green-line-nenshi-mason-infrastructure-1.4192673|title=Alberta pledges $1.53B for Green Line LRT|date=July 6, 2017|website=CBC News Calgary|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref>

==== North leg ====
This leg of the Green Line would serve the residential communities of Country Hills, Coventry Hills, Harvest Hills, Panorama Hills, and other communities, possibly in the future extending as far as the nearby [[Airdrie, Alberta|City of Airdrie]]. The Green Line North, as it has been re-designated, will be a mix of grade level and underground infrastructure extending north from the downtown core along [[Centre Street (Calgary)|Centre Street North]].

In July 2015, the Canadian federal government committed to put $1.5 billion into funding the Green Line LRT or one-third of the project's $4.6 billion cost.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/tories-announce-1-5b-for-green-line-lrt-project| title=Tories announce $1.5B for Green Line LRT project| newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Trevor| last=Howell| date=July 24, 2014| access-date=2015-09-28}}</ref> Discussions between the city of Calgary and the province continue with the goal of building the new light rail line instead of developing a BRT system as an interim measure.

In January, 2015, Calgary City Council approved the Green Line North (formerly known as North Central LRT), setting Centre Street N as the route. In December 2015, Council approved the planning report on Green Line funding, staging, and delivery. Actual completion dates will depend on delivery of promised federal and provincial government funding.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Transit-projects/Green-line/timeline.aspx | title = Green Line Timeline | publisher = City of Calgary | access-date = May 2, 2015}}</ref>

Currently in the RouteAhead plan, there is also a long-term plan to extend the north leg to Airdrie. It's not exactly certain what route it would take from the current planned terminus.

==== Southeast leg ====
This leg is planned to run from downtown (although on a different routing, not following the 7th Avenue corridor) to the communities of Douglasdale and [[McKenzie Lake]] and [[McKenzie Towne]] in the southeast, and onwards past Highway 22X into the so-called{{by who|date=February 2025}} "Homesteads" region east of Deerfoot Trail{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}.

Eighteen stations have been planned for this route and the project is expected to be completely built by 2039.<ref name="SELRT">{{cite news| url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Southeast+cost+estimate+soars+billion/6936003/story.html| title=Southeast LRT cost estimate soars to $2.7 billion (Project won't be finished for 27 years, city report says)| work=[[Calgary Herald]]| first=Amanda| last=Stephenson| date=July 15, 2012| access-date=2012-07-15| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717132505/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Southeast+cost+estimate+soars+billion/6936003/story.html| archive-date=July 17, 2012| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Three of the proposed downtown stations are expected to be built underground,<ref>{{cite web |author=((Calgary Land Use Planning & Policy)) |title= City Centre Plan |version= Part 2, p. 79 |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2007 |url= http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/planning/pdf/centre_city/centre_city_plan_one.pdf |archive-url= https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080411024536/http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/planning/pdf/centre_city/centre_city_plan_one.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |access-date= 2007-12-22 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> and the rest of the line will follow the 52 Street SE corridor from Douglasdale and McKenzie Towne to [[Auburn Bay, Calgary|Auburn Bay]] (south of Highway 22X) and then wind its way through Health Campus (adjacent to the southeast hospital) and [[Seton, Calgary|Seton]]. Unlike Routes 201 and 202, which use [[high-floor]] U2 and SD-160 LRVs, the eastern route is expected to employ [[low floor|low-floor]] LRVs,<ref>{{cite web |author= ((Calgary Land Use Planning & Policy)) |title= Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan |version= Part 2, pp. 85–86 |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2007 |url= http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/planning/pdf/centre_city/beltline/beltline_plan_two.pdf |archive-url= https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080411024548/http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/planning/pdf/centre_city/beltline/beltline_plan_two.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |access-date= 2007-12-22 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> such as the [[Bombardier Flexity Outlook]] or the [[Siemens S700 and S70|Siemens S70]].

From north to south, the proposed stations are: Eau Claire, Central (at 6 Avenue), Macleod Trail, 4 Street SE, Ramsay/Inglewood, Crossroads, Highfield, Lynnwood, Ogden, South Hill, Quarry Park, Douglasglen, Shepard, Prestwick, [[McKenzie Towne]], Auburn Bay/Mahogany (at 52nd Street), Health Campus/Seton (the station likely will share the name of the hospital and expected to be completed by 2039),<ref name="SELRT" /> with further stations to the south expected in the future.<ref name=SELRT2004>{{cite web |author= Clifton ND Lea Consulting |title= Southeast LRT Functional Planning Study |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2004 |version= Phase III – Glenmore Trail to Elbow River |url= http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/SE_LRT_Final_Report.pdf |access-date= 2007-12-22 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024519/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/SE_LRT_Final_Report.pdf |archive-date= April 11, 2008 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Calgary Transit |title= Calgary LRT Network Plan |publisher= City of Calgary |year= 2008 |page= 8 |url= http://calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |access-date= 2009-01-01 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091229191733/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/ct_lrt_network_plan.pdf |archive-date= December 29, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

Construction of the South East LRT would cost over C$2.7 billion over 27 years.<ref name="SELRT" /> Because there was no funding available, the city laid out plans to build a transit way for the South East BRT known as SETWAY. Open houses to explore the idea of a transit way for the South East occurred in the South East communities of Ramsay, Riverbend and McKenzie Towne in January 2012. Between 1999 and 2006 Calgary Transit conducted studies for the South East LRT to find ways to make improvements of overall transit use in the South East for short term while having LRT being the long-term goal.<ref name="calgarytransit.com" />

On December 3, 2016, it was announced that an additional C$250 million in additional funding was allocated in a joint venture by the Federal and Provincial Governments. This comes in line with a possible final cost estimate of the South East LRT to be announced in March 2017.
[[File:Calgary transit capital projects-1.png|thumb|300x300px|Capital transit projects for the future Calgary rapid transit network. Map based on LRT Network Plan (2008), BRT Network Plan (2011), Route Ahead Plan (2013), and other City documents.]]

=== Spur line to Calgary International Airport ===
Calgary Transit's C$8 billion, 30-year [http://www.routeahead.ca/ RouteAhead] plan, approved in 2013, includes a connection from downtown Calgary to [[Calgary International Airport]], which may take initial form as a Route 202 [[Branch line|spur line]].<ref name="Extension" /><ref name="Future" /> The [https://web.archive.org/web/20121107224123/http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TI/Pages/Road-projects/Airport-Trail-Tunnel.aspx Airport Trail road tunnel], which opened on May 25, 2014, was built with room to accommodate a future two-track CTrain [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2014/05/25/airport-tunnel-first-run-beneath-the-runway-video/ | title=Airport Tunnel: First run beneath the runway | newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]] | first=Jason| last=Markusoff | date=May 25, 2014 | access-date=2014-05-25}}</ref>

=== Future MAX (BRT) light rail conversion ===
RouteAhead currently suggests a long-term light rail (LRT) conversion of the MAX Purple BRT route.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RouteAhead - Calgary Transit's 30 Year Plan |url=https://pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=245498}}</ref>

=== Other future improvements ===
In late 2015, Calgary Transit completed upgrading its entire system to operate four-car trains instead of the original three-car trains. When enough new LRVs are delivered to lengthen all trains to four cars, this will increase the rush-hour capacity of the system by 33%. By 2023, Calgary Transit also plans to begin decommissioning some of the original [[Siemens-Duewag U2]]s (as of 2010 80 of the original 83 were in use, and nearing 29 years of service, by 2023 they will be 42 years old). Calgary Transit has ordered some 60 new [[Siemens S200]] LRV cars to replace 28 of the existing U2s in addition to lengthening many of the trains to four cars.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Markusoff |first1=Jason |title=Calgary Transit to buy 60 new LRT cars for $200M |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Calgary+Transit+spend+200M+train+cars/8898525/story.html |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=September 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913010810/https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Calgary+Transit+spend+200M+train+cars/8898525/story.html |archive-date=September 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/siemens_new_ctrains.html |title=Calgary Transit orders 60 new CTrain cars |date=September 11, 2013 |website=Calgary Transit |access-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012005816/http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/siemens_new_ctrains.html |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Calgary transit has also integrated a new mobile ticketing system which allows riders to buy CTrain and other Calgary Transit tickets and passes anytime from anywhere with the use of a smartphone.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Transit|first=Calgary|title=My Fare Mobile Ticketing System {{!}} Calgary Transit|url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/myfare|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.calgarytransit.com|language=en}}</ref> This system, dubbed "My Fare" was rolled out at the end of July 2020, but faced issues at launch such as the incompatibility with Apple's iOS devices.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Calgary Transit 'My Fare' app not ready for Apple devices on launch day|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-transit-my-fare-app-not-ready-for-apple-devices-on-launch-day|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA}}</ref>

=== Further underground infrastructure ===
In addition to numerous tunnels to allow trains to pass under roadways, geographic features, and mainline railways, there are other notable underground portions of Calgary's CTrain system.

Part of the system through downtown is planned to be transferred underground when needed to maintain reliable service. Given this, portions of the needed infrastructure have been built as adjacent and associated land was developed.<ref>{{cite web | author = Calgary Planning Department | title = City Hall Area Redevelopment Plan | version = p. 30 | publisher = City of Calgary | year = 1982 | url = http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/planning/pdf/city_hall_arp.pdf | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080411024523/http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/planning/pdf/city_hall_arp.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 11, 2008 | access-date = December 22, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> As a result of this original plan, when the City of Calgary built a new Municipal Building, it built a short section of tunnel to connect the existing CPR tunnel to the future tunnel under 8th Avenue S. The turnoff to this station is visible in the tunnel on the Red Line entering downtown from the south, shortly before City Hall. However, after [[urban explorer]]s discovered the tunnel and visited it during a transit strike,{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} the city walled off the spur tunnel with concrete blocks.

As the population of metropolitan Calgary increases and growing suburbs require new lines and extensions, the higher train volumes will exceed the ability of the downtown section along 7th Avenue S to accommodate them. To provide for long-term expansion, the city is reviewing its plans to put parts of the downtown section underground. The current plans allow the expanded Blue Line (Northeast/West) to use the existing 7th Avenue S surface infrastructure. The expanded Red Line (Northwest/South), now sharing 7th Avenue S with the Blue Line, will be relocated to a new tunnel dug beneath 8th Avenue S. The future Southeast/Downtown route will probably enter downtown through a shorter tunnel under one or more streets (candidates include 2nd Street W, 5th Street W, 6th Street W, 8th Avenue S, 10th Avenue S, 11th Avenue S, and 12th Avenue S).  Although Calgary City Council commissioned a functional study for the downtown metro component of the CTrain system in November 2007, the city is unlikely to complete this expansion before 2017 unless additional funding is received from provincial or federal governments. The cost of bringing the potential underground leg under 8 Avenue South could be at least C$800 million, according to Calgary Transit's 30-year [http://www.routeahead.ca/ RouteAhead] plan.<ref name="Extension" /><ref name="Future" />

== Stations ==
{{Main|List of CTrain stations}}

There are 45 stations in the CTrain system on 2 distinct lines. The typical station outside the downtown core allows for several passenger arrival and departure methods.  Many CTrain passengers travel to and from suburban stations on feeder bus routes that wind their way through surrounding neighbourhoods. Another popular option is a [[park and ride]] lot, in which commuters drive or bike to a station by car or bicycle and then transfer to a CTrain to complete their journey.  Alternatively, some CTrain passengers disembark at drop-off zones from vehicles travelling elsewhere; because commuters at the time of the system's opening were sometimes conveyed by their spouses, these zones were once branded as [[Park and ride#Kiss and ride|Kiss and Ride]] areas.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

== Ridership ==
The CTrain's high ridership rate and cost effectiveness can be attributed to a number of factors. The nature of Calgary itself has encouraged CTrain use. Calgary has grown into the second largest head office city in Canada, with a very dense downtown business district. Most of the head offices are crowded into about {{convert|1|km2|acre}} of land in the downtown core. In the last half century the population of Calgary has grown dramatically, outpacing the ability of roads to transport people into the city centre, while the central business district has grown up vertically rather than spread out into the suburbs.<ref name="Hubbel">{{cite conference | last1=Hubbel | first1=John | last2=Colquhoun | first2=Dave | url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/Calgarys_LRT_1st_25Years_TRB%20_revised.pdf | title=Light Rail Transit in Calgary: The First 25 Years | publisher=Calgary Transit | date=May 8, 2006 | book-title=Joint International Light Rail Conference | location=St. Louis, Missouri | access-date=2009-09-23 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003330/http://www.calgarytransit.com/Calgarys_LRT_1st_25Years_TRB%20_revised.pdf | archive-date=September 28, 2007 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Historically, Calgary residents, particularly its influential inner city community associations, voted against proposals to build major freeways into its city centre, forcing new commuters to use transit as their numbers increased while downtown street and freeway capacity remained the same.  City planners limited the number of parking spaces in the downtown core since the narrow downtown streets could not allow more traffic to park. At the same time, Calgary's maturation as a globally influential head office city caused many surface parking lots to be replaced by new skyscrapers, which increased office workers while reducing parking spaces. This eventually made it prohibitively expensive for most people to park downtown. The shortage of downtown parking caused fees to become among the most expensive in North America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.colliers.com/content/Attachments/India/CI_Global_parking_09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103094054/http://colliers.com/content/Attachments/India/CI_Global_parking_09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-01-03 |publisher=[[Colliers International]] |title= Global CBD Parking Rate Study |year=2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/calgary-parking-fees-2nd-highest-in-n-america-1.1108002 |title=Calgary parking fees 2nd highest in N. America |newspaper=CBC News |date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=2011-12-08}}</ref> As a result, in 2012 50% of Calgary's 120,000 downtown workers used Calgary Transit to get to work, with a long-term goal of growing that proportion to 60% of downtown workers.

Forward planning for the CTrain played an important role.  Although the light rail system was not chosen until 1976, the city planners had proactively reserved transit corridors for some form of high capacity transport during the 1960s, and the right-of-ways for the system were reserved when Calgary's population was less than 500,000, whereas today it is well over twice that number. [[Bus rapid transit]] lines were put in place along future routes to increase commuter numbers prior to constructing proposed future LRT lines. Rather than demolishing buildings, the city reached an agreement with [[CP Rail]] to build most of the south line in available space inside an existing CPR right-of-way. Large parts of the other lines were built in the medians and along the edges of freeways and other major roads. Automobile driver objections were muted by adding extra lanes to roads for cars at the same time as putting in the LRT tracks, which reduced costs for both, and by adding grade-separating intersections which reduced both driver and train delays.  The lines and stations were placed to serve large outlying suburbs and the central and other business districts, and to serve existing and predicted travel patterns.

Costs were controlled during construction and operation of the system by going with the lowest bidder and using relatively cheap, commercially available technology without regard for "buy Canadian" policies. This has worked out well for a pioneer system because the German technology chosen has since become a more or less standard design for most North American LRT systems, and compatible new-generation equipment with new features is available off-the-shelf.  A grade-separated system was passed over in preference for a system with few elevated or buried segments, and the trains and stations selected were of the tried and tested, utilitarian variety (for example, vehicles were not air conditioned, storage yards were not automated, and stations were usually modest concrete platforms with a shelter overhead).  This allowed greater amounts of track to be laid within available budgets. The CTrain reduced fare collection costs by using an honour system of payment. Transit police check passenger tickets at random, and fines are set at a level high enough that those who are caught pay the costs for those who evade detection. Staffing costs were kept low by employing a minimum number of workers, and because the system is all-electric (wind powered) it can run all night with only 1 driver per train and 2 people in the control room. It now runs 22 hours per day without significantly increased overhead. (The other 2 hours are reserved for track maintenance).

Although not universally grade separated, the CTrain is able to operate at high speeds on much of its track because it is separated from traffic and pedestrians by fences and concrete [[bollards]]. The downtown 7th Avenue transit way is limited to trains, buses, and emergency vehicles, with private cars prohibited. Trains are given priority right of way at most road crossings outside of downtown. As a result, trains are able to operate at {{Convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} outside of downtown, and {{Convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} along the 7th Avenue corridor. 7th Avenue is a free fare zone, intended as a downtown people-mover to encourage use for short hops through the downtown core. The city manages to achieve very high transit capacity on the 7th Avenue transit corridor by staging the traffic lights, so that all the trains move forward in unison to the next station on the synchronized green lights, and load and unload passengers on the intervening red lights. The trains are now 1 block long, but buses occupy the empty gaps every second block between trains and the buses unload and load passengers while the trains pass them.<ref name="Capital Utilization">{{cite web |author1=Neil McKendrick |author2=Dave Colquhoun |author3=Bob Charles |author4=John Hubbell |url=http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Calgary_CTrain_Effective_Capital_Utilization.pdf |title=Calgary's CTrain – Effective Capital Utilization |publisher=[[Calgary Transit]] |date=April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409042754/http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Calgary_CTrain_Effective_Capital_Utilization.pdf |archive-date=2008-04-09 }}</ref>

In 2001, the U.S. [[General Accounting Office]] released a study of the cost-effectiveness of American light rail systems.<ref name="GAO">{{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01984.pdf |title=Mass Transit: Bus Rapid Transit Shows Promise |author=[[General Accounting Office]] |work=Report to Congressional Requesters |access-date=2009-08-18 |archive-date=April 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430210939/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01984.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Although not included in the report, Calgary had a capital cost of US$24.5&nbsp;million per mile (year 2000 dollars), which would be the sixth lowest (Edmonton was given as US$41.7&nbsp;million per mile). Because of its high ridership (then 188,000 boardings per weekday, now over 300,000) the capital cost per passenger was $2,400 per daily passenger, by far the lowest of the 14 systems compared, while the closest American system was Sacramento at $9,100 per weekday passenger).  Operating costs are also low, in 2005, the CTrain cost $163 per operating hour to operate. With an average of 600 boardings per hour, in 2001 cost per LRT passenger was $0.27, compared to $1.50 for bus passengers in Calgary.<ref name="Capital Utilization" />

== Facilities ==

* Anderson Garage – LRV indoor storage and training facilities
* Haysboro Garage – small indoor and outdoor LRV storage; LRV yard and Turner Storage Area
* [[Oliver Bowen]] Maintenance Centre – major LRV repair and shops; storage for 60 cars (and up to 108 cars after expansion)

== See also ==
* [[Calgary municipal railway]]
*[[Light rail in Canada]]
*[[Light rail in North America]]
*[[List of tram and light-rail transit systems]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.calgarytransit.com/ Calgary Transit's official website]
**[http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/technical_information.html LRT Technical Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023084723/http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/technical_information.html |date=October 23, 2006 }}
**[https://www.calgarytransit.com/plans-projects/lrt/plans-and-projects-green-line Greenline (Previously SETWAY)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213150806/http://www.calgarytransit.com/plans-projects/lrt/plans-and-projects-green-line |date=February 13, 2020 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100123143847/http://transit.mtroyal.ca/ transit.mtroyal.ca] (Google Maps visualization of Calgary Transit data)
*[http://www.cityrailtransit.com/maps/calgary_map.htm Network map]
*{{YouTube|H73e025ty1o|Green Line LRT}} by the City of Calgary.
*[https://public-transport.net/tram/Calgary/ Calgary CTrain] on [https://public-transport.net public-transport.net]

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[[Category:CTrain| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1981]]
[[Category:Light rail in Canada]]
[[Category:600 V DC railway electrification]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Electric railways in Canada]]