Siemens-Düwag U-2 #2023 on 7 Ave in downtown Calgary with 1912 City Hall in background. CTrain passes right by our hotel on 7 Ave. Photo by Michael Roschlau, June 1981

The original light rail trains in Edmonton and Calgary are now over 40 years old – in Edmonton’s case, the U-2s will be 50 years old before they are retired later this decade.  In celebration of this milestone and to commemorate the evolution of light rail in two of North America’s pioneer systems, the CTHF is collaborating with the Electric Railroader’s Association for a 4-day comprehensive tour of these two systems and related attractions.

Edmonton and Calgary launched the spectacular revival of light rail in North America in 1978 and 1981, respectively.  Calgary’s CTrain light rail has the highest ridership per km as well the highest daily ridership in US and Canada (yes, more than the classic light rail systems in Boston, San Francisco, and Philadelphia).  Edmonton has the second highest ridership per km of any light rail system in the US and Canada.

We have prepared an exciting program for this tour. The Edmonton visit includes escorted rides on three light rail lines over 42 km, including the 12-km Valley Line opened in November 2023; MacDonald light rail shop visit; the Edmonton Radial Railway Society’s (ERRS) picturesque High Level Bridge Streetcar over the North Saskatchewan River; and finally, ERRS’s heritage loop operations at Fort Edmonton Park, a faithful reconstruction of the pioneer city of Edmonton in the late 19th and early 20th Century.  The Calgary visit includes a Calgary Transit charter of the CTrain network and shop visit as well as a visit to the Calgary Heritage Park, a reconstruction of the pioneer city of Calgary, served by a restored Calgary streetcar connecting the parking areas with the park.  Each of our four evenings feature presentations on historic, present, and future rail transit in Edmonton, Calgary, and across Canada.

Limited spots remain available.  Please see the following link for details: Edmonton – Calgary 2024 (erausa.org)

Bombardier Flexity #2006 at Quarters Station in Chinatown, the first stop in downtown on the Valley Line SE, after emerging from the tunnel leading to the bridge over the North Saskatchewan River. Photo by Michael Roschlau, Nov 2023