Calgary C-Train — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Calgary C-Train Information

The C-Train is a light rail transit system operating in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has been open to commuters since May 1981. It is operated by the Calgary Transport Corporation, which is part of the Transportation Department of the City of Calgary.

Calgary’s C-Train service is heavily used by commuters and has been ranked as the third busiest light rail system in North America, behind the Toronto Streetcar System and the Guadalajara Light Rail System in Mexico.

Calgary C-Train Map

Map of Calgary C-Train showing its lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Calgary C-Train map in PDF format.

Lines and Stations Overview

Calgary’s rail network consists of two main lines: Line 201 and Line 202. Line 201 is identified by its red colour, while Line 202 is identified by its blue colour. The network includes a mix of underground, surface and elevated lines.

A significant portion of the C-Train system is concentrated within a 2 kilometre stretch in downtown Calgary known as the Transit Mall.

Line 201: The Red Line

This line connects the northwestern and southern parts of the city. It divides into two branches – the northeast and the south – which converge at the Transit Mall. The Red Line is 33 kilometres long and has 20 stations.

Line Color: Red.
Line Number: 201.
Line Name: Tuscany – Somerset – Bridlewood.
Station Count: 20.
Line Length: 33 kilometers.
Travel Duration: xx.
Operating Hours: Between 4:00 am and 1:00 am.

Stations: Tuscany, Crowfoot, Dalhousie, Brentwood, University, Ban Trail, Lions Park, SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee, Sunnyside, Victoria Park/Stampede, Erlton/Stampede, 39 Avenue, Chinook, Heritage, Southland, Anderson, Canyon Meadows , Fish Creek – Lacombe , Shawnessy, Somerset – Bridlewood

Line 202: The Blue Line

The Blue Line connects the north-eastern sector of the city with the western sector. It also runs towards the Transit Mall, where the two branches of this line meet. It is 25.7 kilometres long and has 17 stations.

Line Color: Blue.
Line Number: 202.
Line Name: 69 Street – Saddletowne
Station Count: 17
Line Length: 25.7 kilometers.
Travel Duration: xx.
Operating Hours: Between 4:00 am and 1:00 am.

Stations: 69 Street, Sirocco, 45 Street, Westbrook, Shaganappi Point, Sunalta, Downtown West/Kerby, Bridgeland/Memorial, Zoo, Barlow/Max Bell, Franklin, Marlborough, Rundle, Whitehorn, McKnight – Westwinds, Martindale, Saddletowne

Schedule and Frequency of Trains

The C-Train operates from 4:00 am to 1:00 am. During the morning peak, trains run every 4 to 7 minutes. This frequency changes to 10 minute intervals at midday and during the afternoon peak, and then to 15 minute intervals in the evening.

At weekends, the frequency of trains varies between 10 and 15 minutes throughout the day and night, depending on the number of passengers.

Interconnections

Interlinking of Lines

The Red Line (Line 201) connects with the Blue Line (Line 202) at 8 Street, 6 Street, 3 Street and Centre Street stations, linking the northeastern and southern parts of the city.

The line connecting the northeast and northwest areas connects at City Hall, 1 Street, 4 Street and 7 Street stations.

All these stations form the Transit Mall and are located in a duty-free zone, allowing passengers to travel and shop in the area free of charge.

Integration with Other Systems

For passengers needing a connection to Calgary International Airport, Route 300 is accessible from City Hall Station. Route 100 can also be accessed from McKnight – Westwinds and North Pointe stations.

Efforts are underway to improve the system’s compatibility with other transportation networks, such as

Airdrie ICE: A service that provides a link between Calgary and Airdrie. Although it shares some stations with the subway, the fares for each service are different.

On-It: A service that takes passengers from Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and High River to the Bridlewood light rail station in Somerset. This service operates Monday to Friday during peak hours.

Fare Structure and Ticketing

Tickets can be purchased in advance, either individually or in packs of 10, from ticket offices or vending machines located on platforms.

Single tickets are valid for 90 minutes and allow you to transfer to a bus. Tickets purchased in advance must be validated at the station before boarding the metro or bus.

The fare for adults (18 and over) is 3.30 Canadian dollars (CAD), with a pack of 10 tickets costing 33 CAD.

Youth between the ages of 6 and 17 pay CAD 2.30 for a single ticket and CAD 23 for a pack of 10 tickets.

Children under 5 travel free.

Pass Options

There are also daily and monthly passes for young people, adults and senior citizens. As the names suggest, the daily pass is valid for a single day, while the monthly pass is valid for a calendar month. The benefits of these passes include unlimited travel on the entire Calgary transit network.

The daily pass for adults costs CAD 10.50, while the monthly pass costs CAD 103. For youth, the daily pass is C$7.50 and the monthly pass is C$70.

Reduced fares are also available for low-income individuals and students enrolled in government social assistance programmes or special programmes at major universities.

All types of tickets and passes can be purchased at system stations, customer service offices, selected stores and supermarkets, online and from vending machines that accept coins, debit and credit cards.

Parking Facilities

Most C-Train stations have parking facilities. Both free and reserved parking is available.

Users with multiple vehicles, including motorcycles, can register up to five vehicles in the system, but only one can be parked at a time.

Reserved parking spaces are available from 2:00am to 10:00am on weekdays. Any unoccupied spaces after 10:00 am and on weekends are available for free parking.

Users can reserve parking spaces for several months in advance and pay in advance.

Bicycle parking is also available. Most C-Train stations have bike racks where users can secure their bikes.

For added security, a bike locker system is available at 14 stations. These lockers can be hired for between six months and a year.

Guidelines, Suggestions, and Recommendations

Bicycles are allowed on the metro, but are restricted during peak hours (6.30am to 9.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm on weekdays). Folding bikes are allowed at all times.
Seats near the entrances are reserved for disabled and elderly passengers. Please ensure that these seats remain available for them.
Respect the space of others by not resting your feet on seats. Fines may be imposed for this offence.
If using personal audio devices or mobile phones, keep the volume low to minimise disturbance to other passengers.
Please avoid littering in the carriages or elsewhere. Please retain your litter until it can be disposed of properly.
Smoking is strictly prohibited on the transport system and offenders may be fined.
Pets, such as leashed dogs, may travel free of charge. Other types of animals must be securely restrained in cages or kennels.
Before boarding, stand back and allow other passengers to disembark.
Large bags and oversized luggage may cause inconvenience to other passengers. Please ensure that they are stowed so as not to obstruct other passengers.

Interesting Trivia

A three-car C-Train can carry over 600 passengers, the equivalent of about 545 car journeys.
Using public transport is good for the environment. For example, a full bus is six times more efficient than an average car carrying a single passenger.
A single bus can carry the same number of people as 41 cars, while producing a quarter of the emissions per passenger and kilometre compared to cars.
Calgary’s public transit buses are environmentally friendly, run on high-quality, low-sulphur diesel fuel and are regularly maintained to ensure optimal operation.
The C-Train is powered by wind energy, making Calgary’s subway the first public transit system in North America to use wind power.
This transition has eliminated 56,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Each kilometre travelled by Calgary’s transit buses produces 80% less carbon monoxide than a car.
C-Train riders can stay informed about updates and changes related to scheduled maintenance or weather via the Calgary app or notifications from the C-Train Twitter account.

Planned Expansions

Red Line extensions: Two extensions are planned for this line, which will extend Metro from the southern portion of this branch to Silverado and 210 S. Avenue.

Blue Line Extensions: A number of future stations are planned for this line. The northeast branch will extend 7.5 kilometres to 96 Avenue, Country Hills, 128 N. Avenue and Stoney, and the west branch will extend to 85 Street.

At this time, there is no information available on the funding or final construction schedule for these extensions.

The new Green Line: This line will add 28 stations and 46 kilometres of track, connecting the communities between Keystone and Seton to downtown Calgary, with stops at various points along the Blue and Red Lines. This line is expected to serve approximately 240,000 passengers daily.

The Green Line will provide direct access to the new Southern Health Campus, major recreational facilities, major employment centres, the new National Music Centre, the main library, Rain Park and several revitalised commercial areas.

The Green Line will also integrate with future rail service to Calgary International Airport, which recently opened a new international terminal.

Airport Accessibility

Calgary International Airport, located 17 kilometres from downtown Calgary, is one of Canada’s busiest airports in terms of passenger traffic. The C-Train provides easy access to the airport, although a transfer to city buses is required.

Getting to the Calgary International Airport

Access to and from Calgary International Airport is provided by Route 300 from City Hall Station and Route 100 from McKnight Station and North Pointe Station.

A $10.50 fare provides unlimited daily access to buses and the C-Train for travel to and from the airport. This fee also includes a return trip to the airport, provided the return trip is within the same day as the outbound trip.

At the airport, buses can be boarded at Gate 7, opposite Arrival Gate 2, and Gate 32, opposite Arrival Gate 15.

Tickets can be purchased at the airport’s Mac Stores, located near arrival gates 1 and 11, or from vending machines at gates 7 and 32.

It’s advisable to have exact change when paying cash, as shop assistants may not be able to give change. Alternatively, a valid monthly travel pass can be used for the journey from the airport, although it is not valid for the return journey.

Calgary Metro Sightseeing Opportunities

Art exhibitions, concerts, food festivals, sporting events and many other activities can be enjoyed in Calgary. Visit the C-Train website to find out about the major events each month. Some of the city’s most iconic locations accessible by C-Train include:

The Calgary Zoo

Home to over 1000 species of animals from around the world, Calgary Zoo offers the following attractions

The Prehistoric Park: This exhibit features lifelike dinosaur robots, including a T-Rex that activates at the touch of a button.
Destination Africa: Meet gorillas, colobus monkeys, mandrills, snakes and crocodiles. Travel across the savannah to see bathing hippos, amusing giraffes and resting lions.
The Penguin Dive: See different species of penguins plunge into the frigid waters of Antarctica.
The Canadian Wilds: This exhibit showcases native wildlife including bears, wolves, cougars, bison, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Calgary Aerospace Museum

Located south of the international airport, the Calgary Aerospace Museum displays over 24 aircraft and 58 aircraft engines. Some of the exhibits were part of the Canadian Museum of the Air, which closed in 1971.

The museum also has exhibits from Canada’s space programme and a memorial to Alberta airmen who died in the Second World War.

Heritage Park Historical Village

Covering 51 hectares in the southwest of the city, this living history museum features many historic structures transported from various parts of the country, as well as some replicas.

There’s something for everyone, with more than 180 attractions, including rides on steam-powered trains, a replica of a Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading fort, horse-drawn wagons and First Nations camps.

The Core Shopping Centre

Famous for its size, this shopping centre consists of over 160 shops spread over four levels. The most striking architectural feature is the huge glass skylight.

Glenbow Museum

Located in downtown Calgary, it has the largest art collection in Western Canada.

It’s also home to significant artefacts from indigenous cultures, an extensive library and one of the country’s leading research centres.

Calgary Tower

At 191 metres tall, the tower has a 360-degree observation deck offering spectacular views of the city.

For the thrill-seeking and adventurous, there’s a glass floor section where you can see the city below your feet.

Downtown Walks

Walking is a great way to see the city. Tour guides often recommend the route from Calgary Tower to Stephen Avenue, where you’ll find a number of bars and restaurants.

Calgary is also known for its festivals, including:

Stampede: This ten-day festival attracts thousands of visitors every July. The main attraction is the rodeo, but visitors can also enjoy a variety of food, parades and concerts.
Calgary Film Festival: Held in late September and early October, this festival features some 200 feature and short films from around the world.
Beerfest: Held in May, visitors can sample more than 500 beers and local cuisine from the city’s top restaurants.
The city also has parks and gardens for outdoor enthusiasts, including
Spruce Meadows: Visitors can picnic, horse ride, hike and even visit nearby museums.
Prince’s Island Park: This park hosts outdoor concerts, cultural and recreational events. It’s also the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature.