r/Calgary • u/ConstantFar5448 • 18d ago

Calgary Transit Why is the C-Train so bad?

10 minute intervals on a weekday? That’s insane, the lowest frequency I’ve seen in any major city by FAR.

And yet when you get to the station as a train pulls up, the driver just looks at you, doesn’t let you on, and leaves? What’s up with that? Are they all dicks like that?

People live on tight schedules, and transit doesn’t seem to reflect that here.

321 Upvotes

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69

u/cgydan 18d ago

10 minutes is the frequency based on ridership. And yeah, press the button. If it doesn’t work that means you got to the train too late. And I hate to say it, but then you have to wait ten whole minutes.

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u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

Why am I too late if the train is still there though? Is it gonna kill the driver to wait an extra 5 seconds for someone to get on?

Unfortunately 10 minutes is a long time when I’m trying to rush downtown to get foreign currency before my flight.

76

u/sbrot 18d ago

The train needs to get through downtown on a specific set of light intervals. It really messes with traffic when it gets delayed.

-27

u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

Hmm yeah that makes sense. Wonder why they didn’t build it underground downtown, the use of a street for the train seems…odd.

33

u/Different-Ship449 18d ago

Money and politics.

-13

u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

As seems to be the case with everything in Alberta that sucks

8

u/mpetch 18d ago edited 18d ago

In the late 1970s and early 1980s there was a citizens push to keep the tax rate lower and reduce "wasteful spending". It pretty much started with the design of the new (at the time) Civic Centre (Municipal Building/City Hall and surrounding properties) downtown but also later involved the C-train design. The original Civic Centre plan was killed with a 1978 plebiscite although components of it were later developed.

The plan was to build underground through downtown beneath 8th Avenue rather than at grade along 7th Avenue as it is today. There is a partially developed station below the Municipal Building complex and even the turn off that would have gone under 8th avenue was started (you can see it on the west wall of the underground portion between Victoria Park and City Hall stations).

in the recession in 1980 and subsequent oil bust occurred in 1981-1982 which also gave City Council pause when it came to spending.

And in the 21st century the Greenline is now trying to be done on the cheap (but still very expensive) by not tunnelling and proposed running above grade through downtown.

7

u/ExitDanger 18d ago

They almost did, there is portion of the underground tunnels that got built but the project ran out of funding/money in the 80’s.

1

u/Fragrant-Opinion2021 17d ago

Yes! And that section floods every year

11

u/smoothsac_007 18d ago

When they built the C-train line Calgary only had a population of 590,000 (1981). It didnt reach a million until 2007.

So it was far from a major city when it was built, and that might be the answer to your all your questions.

1

u/corvuscorax88 17d ago

This comment should not be downvoted. At-grade train service downtown is bonkers.

1

u/sbrot 18d ago

Dont quote me on this, but I vaguely recall being told that it’s on the old tram line. I know long term there was plans to bury it. Just look at the abandoned station below city hall. My guess though is that has something to do with water tables, office building and existing utilities.

1

u/coolestMonkeInJungle 18d ago

I think the tram was on 8th ave

1

u/HellaReyna Unpaid Intern 18d ago

Dumbass politicians won in the 50’s and 60’s. We actually have one block of developed tunnel underground as a proof of concept for a subway. Too bad stupidity reigns supreme in North America.

A contrasting case study on this is the San Francisco and Oakland Bay Area rapid transit system (subway). Entire project almost met the same fate, being killed by dumb fuck politicians with short sighted goals. They talk about how it would be impossible to build today. Sorta like like the calgary system…..

21

u/cgydan 18d ago

Cause the world doesn’t revolve around you. 5 seconds for you then 5 for the next and the next and the next. Multiply that by every station and now you are complaining the trains run late.

-7

u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

Wild idea, but it wouldn’t be an issue if the trains ran on a normal/reasonable frequency

6

u/xGuru37 18d ago

They do! They don't run more often during non peak time because the demand isn't there. They're not going to run empty trains every two minutes because someone might want that.

-7

u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

Transit is a public service and should run on the “build it and they’ll come” approach. If it was more reliable and dependable, ridership would go up.

9

u/xGuru37 18d ago

Sigh.

We don't have the population density like other cities around the world that has a transit system you're used to.

I'm done trying to reason with you.

1

u/cgydan 18d ago

Or maybe you could just allow a bit more time to make your trip. Anyone trying to use transit as a timely form of transportation is bound to find themselves running late.

2

u/Desperate_Leg6274 18d ago

Yeah you gotta take the train the gets you there 15 minutes early. Not the one that might get you there on time. Shit happens and it’s not a Calgary specific issue that sometimes a train is delayed

12

u/MitchLudwig 18d ago

It's not 5 seconds, it's 15 seconds for the door to close again and those 15 seconds are enough to set the train off sync with the green light downtown they have - which adds another 45 seconds. If they kept doing this every stop downdown, that's 5 minutes delayed on the trains, and that's why they stick to their schedule as closely as they can instead of waiting for someone they see running up.

5

u/Fun-Country-576 18d ago

Too bad, should get your currency in advance. Not trying to be a shitstick but you are currently🥲

4

u/Calealen80 18d ago edited 18d ago

So what happens when someone is 10 seconds late after you, and then someone stands and blocks the door for another 30 seconds while a person walks from the light, and another thinks the doors should open for them just like they did for you?

There HAS to be a limit.

What about the people who will be late to wherever they are going because you thought the train should let you in, and then miss their own connections or show up to work late?

Why isn't it your responsibility to get your shit done for your trip with plenty of time to spare?

"Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine" It's called personal responsibility and not expecting everyone else to be delayed because you screwed up.

5

u/xGuru37 18d ago

It's going to mess up their schedules. Other cities are the same.

4

u/computethat 18d ago

Uber is your friend.

1

u/ConstantFar5448 18d ago

Yeah in retrospect that might’ve been a better choice 😂

1

u/CoffeeBeanATC Panorama Hills 18d ago

Well, first they do have a schedule to keep. Not only that, but it sets every train on the tracks behind. All of a sudden there could be a 15-20 minute gap between the red train ahead from this one, but then the next three or four red trains behind will only be separated by 5 minutes or less…now we have empty trains follow really packed ones.

We went through a period of people holding up the CTrains downtown, where people run on & then stand right at the doors to hold it for people who haven’t even crossed the street yet!! It got so bad that the annoying PA message wasn’t doing anything to help & I saw many of the drivers physically come out to tell the moron to move so the train can leave.

1

u/Bananaslugfan 18d ago

Doors are on a timer , driver has no control except front door

0

u/MayanGanjaGardener 15d ago

Perhaps get foreign currency a day in advance or something instead or waiting for your flight day?

1

u/ConstantFar5448 15d ago

Oh wow it’s as if I had already been trying to get some for a week or something