When I was in Calgary for the SuperTrain 2024 train show, I used Calgary Transit twice. I would like to share my experience with you.
I was staying at a Best Western near the airport, and I had to get to the show on Sunday morning. It was too far to walk, so I looked at my options. Bus, taxi, Uber (shudder)… the C-Train wasn’t an option because there weren’t any lines near me.
My map application told me there was a bus stop a few hundred metres from the hotel. I did some quick research and determined my best option was to download the My Fare app to pay for the trip. With that, I could pay by tapping my phone and not mess around with credits or other payment schemes.
The process is pretty simple. You buy ticket(s) ahead of time using the app, then activate them just before using Calgary Transit. You scan the ticket when you get on the bus.
It worked flawlessly for me.
I caught a MAX bus at the 19th Street NE bus stop and rode it to the Genesis Centre. The bus was right on time and lightly used at that time (9 AM Sunday morning).
(Calgary Transit’s MAX is a rapid/express bus service)
For part of the trip, we paralleled a C-Train track. I did a little railfanning while we rolled along the road.
It was a very pleasant way to travel.
At the end of the show, I had to get myself and my carry-on bag to the airport. Again, I considered my options, and found that there was a bus (#100) that went from the nearby Saddletowne Terminal to the airport. Perfect!
The Saddletowne Terminal is a multimodal terminal, with several bus bays and a C-Train stop. I photographed a C-Train while waiting for the bus to arrive.
This bus 100 was a little late – about 10 minutes late – which caused me some slight anxiety.
Once I was aboard, everything went smoothly and we were dropped off right at the airport. Easy peasy. I enjoyed the view of downtown and the distant Rockies from the bus.
My airport experience was a little surreal. Mostly I was thinking, “where IS everyone?” The Calgary airport was practically deserted on the departures level.
There were a lot more people on the other side of security. I guess I arrived at a lull.
My flight (Air Canada #290) was uneventful, the crew were professional and pleasant, and everything went well… as it should.
Oh, and SuperTrain? It was GREAT. You can read more about it here on my “other” blog.
