An unofficial riders’ information to navigating service interruptions on Calgary’s LRT system

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Most journeys by CTrain are uneventful however building, emergencies and surprising incidents might sometimes trigger delays or disruptions that may considerably have an effect on commutes.
Postmedia staffer Ricky Leong, a longtime Calgary Transit person and an occasional transit commentator, shares some important assets to assist transit riders navigate the transit system when parts of the CTrain are out of service.
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Do you’ve gotten ideas for bus alternate options in case of CTrain disruptions? Go away a be aware within the feedback part under to share your tip with us and with different riders.
Info listed on this publish is correct as of March 2024. Will probably be up to date because the transit system evolves and as ideas from readers are available.
Present/deliberate CTrain disruptions
The Blue Line is closed from March 29 to 31 between 69th Avenue and Westbrook stations, with alternative shuttles working regularly serving stops close to the affected stations.
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Unplanned CTrain disruptions

Within the occasion of an unplanned interruption to CTrain providers, pay attention for messages on station platforms and search for written messages on info screens at stations, on Calgary Transit’s web site, and on its social media account.
If the disruption is severe and/or extended, shuttle bus providers could also be supplied. Shuttle stops are normally in station bus loops, the place such services exist. They might even be positioned on streets close to stations. In downtown Calgary, CTrain shuttles function on sixth Avenue going west, and ninth Avenue going east.
Those that want to keep away from the CTrain or shuttle providers throughout a service outage and experience a scheduled bus service as an alternative can use Calgary Transit’s official journey planner on its web site, or by the Transit app for cell units. Simply bear in mind to deselect the CTrain from the record of journey choices.

For these with out a smartphone/cell web or preferring memorizing route choices, bookmark this web page and look under to search out quite a lot of alternate options to get across the metropolis with out utilizing the practice.
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Bus alternate options will probably take longer than utilizing the practice — a lot in order that in some circumstances, it is likely to be sooner to attend for service to renew or for a shuttle service to start out. Will probably be as much as particular person riders to weigh all of the choices and decide proper for his or her state of affairs.
Metropolis Centre/Downtown Calgary
If Calgary Transit shuttle buses are supplied, they may function on sixth Avenue going west and ninth Avenue going east. If you want you utilize the common bus community as an alternative, there are a selection of east-west choices near the CTrain line on seventh Avenue.
Buses working eastbound on important parts of fifth Avenue:
- Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 90, 301, Max Yellow
Buses working westbound on important parts of sixth Avenue:
- Routes 1, 2, 4, 6, 17, 22, 66, 301, 302, Max Yellow, Max Purple
Buses working eastbound on important parts of ninth Avenue:
- Routes 1, 22, 66, 300, 302, Max Yellow, Max Purple
Purple Line northwest
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Most stations on the northwest section of the Purple Line join to one another instantly by the native bus community.
One exception is Sunnyside. Routes 1, 4/5 and 104 cease on the station and/or within the Kensington BIA. Riders going to/from areas usually served by practice might have to make transfers. In case your vacation spot is on the west facet of the BIA, Route 65 is another choice.
These utilizing Tuscany station ought to be aware the bus experience to/from Crowfoot on Route 138 is a circuitous neighbourhood line that can add important time to the journey.
Choices for College of Calgary, SAIT and Alberta College of the Arts
Main locations at or close to CTrain stations within the northwest embrace giant post-secondary establishments.
- Buses fan out from the College of Calgary terminal at Craigie Corridor to many elements of Northwest Calgary. Route 90 connects with the Beltline and downtown Calgary. Route 9 (Dalhousie/Chinook) and Route 20 (North-Central Calgary/Heritage), whose routes undergo northwest and southwest Calgary, even have a bus cease adjoining to the College LRT station. Route 104 runs to Sunnyside station by way of Foothills Medical Centre. Different routes, together with Max Orange, have bus stops serving the north facet of the college campus.
- Quite a lot of bus routes run alongside the sides of the SAIT/Alberta College of the Arts campus, together with Routes 4/5 on tenth Avenue N.W., Routes 19 and Max Orange on sixteenth Avenue, and Route 65 on 14th Avenue N.W.
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Purple Line south
Many stations on the south a part of the Purple Line are instantly linked to one another by way of the native bus community.
Nonetheless, there are not any direct bus alternate options between Fish Creek-Lacombe and Canyon Meadows stations, the place the Purple Line crosses Fish Creek Provincial Park. Ready for a shuttle or going for a non-transit possibility could also be a better option than different bus alternate options.
That being mentioned, if travelling throughout the southernmost section of the Purple Line, there are a number of bus choices connecting Somerset-Bridlewood, Shawnessy and Fish Creek-Lacombe stations. It ought to be famous a few of these journeys go into native neighbourhoods between stations.
Route 81 operates Monday to Saturday on and close to Macleod Path south of Chinook station to Southcentre Mall, however its service hours are restricted in comparison with these of the practice.
Route 10 runs on Macleod Path north of Chinook station to downtown. It additionally connects with Anderson station by way of Fairmount Drive and Southcentre Mall.
Route 3 runs on 4th Avenue S.W. and Elbow Drive a few 10- to 20-minute stroll west of the Purple Line between the town centre and Heritage station. Equally, Route 37 operates equally on Elbow Drive west of the Purple Line. These may very well be an fascinating different for some commuters.
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Riders needing to journey between Canyon Meadows and Anderson stations, which additionally don’t have a direct bus connection between them, can attempt Route 37 on the west facet of the Purple Line. An extended, walk-heavy different additionally exists on the east facet of the Purple Line at that location: a mix of Route 44, a protracted stroll throughout Glenmore Path and thru Southcentre Mall, then native buses from there to Anderson. As famous earlier, riders might want to weigh these choices towards time spent ready for a shuttle or ready for service to renew.
Blue Line northeast
Most stations on the northeast section of the Blue Line join to one another instantly by the native bus community.
One notable exception is the station on the Calgary Zoo. The closest buses are Route 90 in Bridgeland and Routes 1, 101 and Max Purple in Inglewood. It’s a few 10- to 15-minute stroll from the zoo to the closest bus stops.
Max Bell/Barlow has restricted bus entry to/from different CTrain stations however there are mainline buses working to neighbourhoods close to the station.
Blue Line west
Most stations alongside the west leg of the Blue Line are instantly linked to one another with native bus routes.
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One notable exception is between Sirocco and forty fifth Avenue stations, the place there’s an 800-metre hole (a few 15-minute stroll) between Sirocco station and the final cease for Route 2 on seventeenth Avenue S.W., which runs to/close to many Blue Line stations within the west.
One other is between Sunalta and Shaganappi Level station, the place some backtracking is probably going required to get from one to the opposite.
Crosstown bus routes bypassing downtown
Many mainline bus routes intersecting with CTrain providers downtown additionally join with crosstown routes ringing the central elements of the town.
- Routes 19, 38 and Max Orange join the Purple Line within the northwest with the Blue Line within the northeast.
- Route 9 connects the Purple Line within the northwest, the Blue Line within the west and the Purple Line within the south.
- Max Teal connects the Blue Line within the west and the Purple Line within the south.
- Route 43 connects the Blue Line within the northeast with the Purple Line within the south.
Think about using these or different crosstown bus alternate options not proven right here to keep away from CTrain service disruptions within the metropolis centre after they happen.
Info on this publish is customized from publicly accessible Calgary Transit information.
Suggestions? Ship an electronic mail to rleong@postmedia.com
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