Calgary Transport

Calgary is a rather large city with a pretty good public transportation system that is relatively inexpensive, reliable and safe. It is served by Calgary Transit (Phone: +1 403 276 1000; website: www.calgarytransit.com), which provides public transportation services including bus and light rail services. The city's rail system, known as the C-Train, was one of the first of such systems in North America and consists of three lines and two routes with 42kms of track.

Tickets for buses can be purchased upon boarding with exact change only, while travellers on the C-train must purchase a ticket from the vending machines, located at all C-train stations. Shuttle services provide superior transportation in the smaller neighbourhoods. Transfers are available between trains, buses and shuttle buses. You can transfer from a light rail service to a bus service on the same ticket.

By Metro

Although Calgary does not have a subway, its combination of bus services, integrated with a light rail system, provides effective transportation within the city. The service is punctual, clean and cheap. Calgary Transit operates both the city’s buses and C-train services.

By train

The C-train system comprises of 36 stations and two lines, known as routes 201 and 202. The 201 line runs from Fish Creek-Lacombe in the south to Brentwood in the northwest. The 202 line runs from Whitehorn in the northeast and ends at Tenth Street, at the western end of downtown. The stretch where both lines overlap along Seventh Avenue is a fare-free zone. C-trains arrive every 5 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes at other times. Services operate from 05:00 to 00:45 on Mondays to Saturdays, and from 06:00 to 00:10 on Sundays.

By bus

Calgary Transit’s system of buses consists of over 160 bus routes. Buses run in regular traffic, with vehicles painted red. Since the opening of the public bus network, service enhancements have been made several times as routes have gained in popularity with public transit users. Improvements have included increased frequency of services, the introduction of weekday evening services and most recently, the introduction of Saturday services. Buses operate daily from 05:00 to 00:00 (some main routes run until 01:00) throughout the city, its suburbs and to Calgary International Airport.

Taxis

You can take a cab in Calgary if necessary, but it’s not always a must. If you take taxis everywhere you go, this can become quite expensive. Taxis can be hailed in the city centre at any time, but the current shortage of taxis in the city means that it’s possible to wait for up to 60 minutes after phoning for a cab. To summon a taxi, you can call any number of private dispatch companies that operate in Calgary. Taxis in Calgary have an initial fixed charge for the first 162 meters, and the price increases according to the time and distance travelled. Popular companies include: Checker Cabs (tel: +1 403 299 9999);
Red Top Cabs (tel: +1 403 974 4444); and Yellow Cabs (tel: +1 403 974 1111).

Tourist services

Calgary’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel: +1 800 661 1678; website: www.visitor.calgary.ab.ca) run Visitor Service centres, which can be found at the Tower Centre and at the airport. They provide free literature, maps and information, and also operate useful, no-charge accommodation bureaus. Other visitor centres are located at the Eau Claire Market and at Calgary International Airport.

From the airport

The Calgary Transit route 57 bus service runs from Calgary International Airport every 30 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00 daily, connecting to the C-Train at Whitehorn Station for the city centre. Airport Shuttle Express and the Airporter are two other shuttle services that are available. Taxis at the airport are available at all hours from the two main taxi stands on the Arrivals level. Airport sedans are also available on-demand from the Arrivals level kerb, adjacent to the taxi stands. Fares for airport sedans are charged based on a zone system at a flat rate that is approximately 25 per cent higher than the average taxi fare for the same journey.