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Packed trains have become the norm on Calgary Transit, as hundreds of thousands don their cowboy attire for this year’s Calgary Stampede.
There’s a little less room on each train this year, as the service is confined to using three-car trains instead of the four normally possible due to ongoing construction at the Haysboro Storage Facility.
Every LRT car has a capacity of about 200 passengers — about 600 for a three-car train — but that can vary if there are people on board with strollers, wagons and wheelchairs.
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In response to the construction work, the service is running three-car trains more frequently to “match” the capacity they would have with four-car trains, said Calgary Transit spokeswoman Melissa Morrow
“It’s most definitely our busiest time of year — and this year is no exception,” said Morrow. “We know that the platforms have been packed this year and we love to see a lot of people taking transit.”
Dan Mulhall parked at the Southland LRT Station to hit the Stampede grounds in time for free entry on Wednesday, which ended at 10 a.m. for everyone, but was free all day for kids 12 and under.
If four-car trains were an option this year, Mulhall said they should be in place.
“The trains are packed. I was on the train (at) 9:30 a.m. and it was still packed,” he said. “By the time we got to Chinook Station, some people had to stay on the platform because the train was so full at that point.”
An all-time daily attendance record was broken at the Stampede on Sunday, with more than 200,000 people coming through the gates.
Dishant Savani attended Stampede for the first time on Wednesday. He said during a busy time, it’s “just too many people.”
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He believes efforts should have been made to implement four-car trains in time for Stampede.
“In the nighttime, there is no space,” Savani said. He also said frequency of the service has been OK.
Service running as many CTrains as possible, transit says
With regard to four-car trains, Morrow said: “It’s just something that logistically at this time we weren’t able to do, and so that’s why we have opted for higher frequency of the three-car trains.”
She called the current service “all hands on deck” with as many vehicles out as possible, including “floater” or spare trains that run when crowds get larger.
“We have the staff and trains at the ready, so if things are getting a little bit wild during peak times, we’re able to help alleviate that pressure,” Morrow said.
Rich Clement has lived in Calgary for more than a decade, so this year isn’t his first rodeo. He lives near the Tuscany LRT Station, and said he’s never had a problem getting to the Stampede — it’s leaving where he hits the crowds.
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Morrow encouraged riders to give themselves time — not try to shove on or off the train, make sure people can get off before getting on themselves and generally being mindful of others.
Calgary Transit ambassadors are stationed at the Victoria Park/Stampede, Erlton/Stampede and busiest downtown stations during peak hours to help people on and off and to assist with crowding, according to Morrow.
Trains are running 24/7 until the morning of July 15, and have been running every 10 minutes or less from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., every 15 minutes from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and every 40 to 50 minutes from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Construction at the Haysboro Facility is meant to make it more suitable for four-car trains and is expected to be complete in fall 2025.
swilhelm@postmedia.com
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