CTrain fleet gets first new cars in 6 years
Three C10 vehicles join service this week with heated floors, digital screens, and AC. Thirty more arrive over two years.
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Calgary Transit rolled out its first new light rail vehicles in six years on Tuesday, with three C10 cars entering service as soon as Wednesday ahead of the busy Stampede season.
The new vehicles join 69 other C9 models already running on the Red and Blue lines. A total of 37 more C10 cars are expected to arrive over the next two-and-a-half years, gradually replacing the aging U2 fleet that has been in service since 1981.
The C10s come equipped with heated floors, onboard digital display screens, air conditioning, improved speakers, and enhanced accessibility. They're also cheaper to maintain and more reliable than the iconic pink-and-blue striped U2 cars that Calgarians have long associated with the CTrain system.
Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming said the new vehicles will remain compatible with the old fleet, allowing them to be linked together to form three- or four-car trains during peak service. All 32 remaining U2 vehicles are expected to be phased out by 2028.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas noted the new additions reflect Calgary's continued expansion. "It only makes sense that our transit system continues to grow and mature alongside the city it serves," he said at Tuesday's ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The C10s are sourced from Siemens in Sacramento, California, and will be transported by rail to Calgary Transit's Haysboro garage for final commissioning before entering regular service.