Calgary Transit

[outoftheice]

Having a station there to serve the Stampede grounds has always made sense, similar to how Toronto has the Exhibition Station just outside of Union for its regional rail trains. The idea of making it a Grand Central Station, serving a similar function as Union Station in Toronto appears to have come from Danielle Smith alone and she is forcing everyone to buy into it. I can't see the province's new rail strategy doing anything but.

 

[darwink]

The idea of making it a Grand Central Station, serving a similar function as Union Station in Toronto appears to have come from Danielle Smith alone and she is forcing everyone to buy into it. I can't see the province's new rail strategy doing anything but.

The station there has been in the high speed rail plans for decades.

 

[trtcttc]

Having a station there to serve the Stampede grounds has always made sense, similar to how Toronto has the Exhibition Station just outside of Union for its regional rail trains. The idea of making it a Grand Central Station, serving a similar function as Union Station in Toronto appears to have come from Danielle Smith alone and she is forcing everyone to buy into it. I can't see the province's new rail strategy doing anything but.

Even if we wanted to, do we have the space to put a Grand Central near the Calgary Tower? And would that require significant rebuild and expansion of many underpasses?

 

[lemongrab]

Even if we wanted to, do we have the space to put a Grand Central near the Calgary Tower? And would that require significant rebuild and expansion of many underpasses?

The CPA parkade from 2nd to 4th SW with High Park might make sense. I'd start with refurbishing the old station and eye that as the expansion plan if/when necessary. There's also all those surface lots on 9th from 4th St to the west.

I've never really seen the value in a GCS where they want it. I think you could do a basic station there and another on the west end of DT near Sunalta. Even if it won't be developed for ages, I think that side would be better for a GCS since its on the main LRT lines.

 

[MichaelS]

The station there has been in the high speed rail plans for decades.

It is even the subject of a massive lawsuit between Remington and CPKC, dating back decades when the Province got the land for said station:

New trial ordered over lawsuit, decision for $160-million damages overturned in loss of Rail Town development

New trial ordered over a lawsuit between Calgary developer and CP Rail and the province which awarded damages in excess of $160 million.

calgaryherald.com

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

Even if we wanted to, do we have the space to put a Grand Central near the Calgary Tower? And would that require significant rebuild and expansion of many underpasses?

From what renders have been released, looks like the plan to avoid conflicts with the CP tracks was to elevate all the passenger lines.

While at one point I thought reusing the old VIA station would be an easy win, that disappears if the passenger tracks aren't at grade. Its also a bit close to GCS for another stop, especially with a GL stop nearby.

I do see value in another commuter stop further west though, maybe somewhere between 8 and 11 st?

 

[Surrealplaces]

Here's a question. Is this lot large enough to do a 'grand central station'? It would be central to downtown and Beltline, and 3 blocks from the LRT and also next to the +15. I'm guessing there's not enough room for the station?

 

[lemongrab]

Here's a question. Is this lot large enough to do a 'grand central station'? It would be central to downtown and Beltline, and 3 blocks from the LRT and also next to the +15. I'm guessing there's not enough room for the station?

View attachment 707538

The city owns the parkade to the west, and presumably there wasn't sufficient demand to fill all 6 levels of parking, hence High Park. Not sure where the ramps are within the parkade, but I'd think the platforms could probably extend into it if necessary

 

[trtcttc]

Here's a question. Is this lot large enough to do a 'grand central station'? It would be central to downtown and Beltline, and 3 blocks from the LRT and also next to the +15. I'm guessing there's not enough room for the station?

View attachment 707538

Even if that is big enough for the station, where would the rail lines go? Unless we are just using existing rails, but doesn't that limit capacity and things like HSR?

 

[lemongrab]

Even if that is big enough for the station, where would the rail lines go? Unless we are just using existing rails, but doesn't that limit capacity and things like HSR?

Presuming CADE and HSR would have/share their own track does make the Vic Park location for GCS make more sense, but it should be on the north side of the CP tracks. Having it on the south side means they need to cross the CP tracks heading east before 12 St SE.

 

[darwink]

Here's a question. Is this lot large enough to do a 'grand central station'? It would be central to downtown and Beltline, and 3 blocks from the LRT and also next to the +15. I'm guessing there's not enough room for the station?

View attachment 707538

Still have to buy Aspen out to demolish the parkade over the tracks?

 

[Surrealplaces]

Even if that is big enough for the station, where would the rail lines go? Unless we are just using existing rails, but doesn't that limit capacity and things like HSR?

I'm assuming that some track space would be shared. I'm not saying it can be done, but possibly one set of tracks, the one closest to the station could be used for HSR

Still have to buy Aspen out to demolish the parkade over the tracks?

Assuming they are sharing the section of track closest to the station, they wouldn't have to demo the parkade. I'm assuming it's a possibility, and it might not be, but looking at the map and the tracks it looks like there are a lot of possibilities if there is enough willpower and money. GCS at Victoria Park would certainly be much easier, but not as good a location. Long-term would it be better to put the effort and money into the better location or go the easier route, but the lesser location?

 

[Red Star]

Here's a question. Is this lot large enough to do a 'grand central station'? It would be central to downtown and Beltline, and 3 blocks from the LRT and also next to the +15. I'm guessing there's not enough room for the station?

View attachment 707538

Wouldn't that conflict with the Greenline?

 

[Surrealplaces]

Wouldn't that conflict with the Greenline?

If the Green Line is above ground, it should be okay. One would walk into the station and HSR would be main level, and up a level to the Green line.

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

If the plan was just for commuter rail VIA station would have worked great. With as few as a half dozen other stations, it could have been a pretty cheap system to implement.

Banff and HSR complicate things though, as does an elevated GL..

Maybe the CABR project could be an extension of the commuter rail system, while waiting for HSR to provide the direct airport link to DT and then onward to Banff.

There'd be some service overlap eventually, but maybe that redundancy is a good thing, can focus HSR on the tourist market while CABR would have a more local focus, with more stops on the way.