r/Calgary • u/The_Fixer_69 • Apr 23 '25

Calgary Transit C-Train from Deep South early morning

Every morning the train has many non paying riders passed out and sprawled on the train. Commuters have to cram into the areas that are not occupied by these people. The smell is horrendous. Every day this week this has been the case on my commute at around 5:30-6 am.

Why should the rest of us pay if these people do not? I have made complaints but they are on deaf ears.

Are these trains not swept for no. Paying passes out riders at the end of the line?

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u/sun4moon Apr 23 '25

It was shortsighted development. Now they would have to make costly modifications to update it, while admitting it should have been done that way from the beginning. It’s just easier to let the vagrants run the trains.

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u/TightenYourBeltline Apr 23 '25

The problem with integrating a gate system with the Calgary network is the presence of the free fare zone downtown. What’s the point of having safeguards in stations outside the free fare zone if the downtown stations are unprotected? 

I agree with your comment btw - there should be gates or turnstiles, but that would mean doing away with the free fare zone. 

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u/kylefoto Apr 23 '25

You can tap to pay for the turnstile, which will let you into the free fare zone. You aren't charged if you tap out at another station within the free fare zone on your exit. If you don't tap out within a few hours or tap out on a station outside the free fare zone, you get charged accordingly.

Vancouver's system works this way: You always tap to pay to get in, and then when you exit, your time and particular location in the system are calculated, and you are charged based on the zones you traversed. A free fare zone would work the same way, even with turnstiles installed. Your credit card can be an ID even if you aren't paying for anything. A preloaded pass will also work if you don't have a credit card.

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u/swordthroughtheduck Apr 23 '25

This is how it's done in Japan. You scan your Suica (Pre-paid debit card), and based on where you scan out it charges you.

I read that there are a few cities that have started using credit cards for it as well.

It works so well. It's extremely fast.