Calgary–South Edmonton train
{{Short description|Passenger rail transport in Alberta}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| name = Calgary–South Edmonton train
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = File:CPR Passenger train on north end of High Level Bridge, Edmonton, Alberta, ca. 1958. (6284042755).jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Canadian Pacific train from Calgary on the High Level Bridge in Edmonton in the 1950s
| type = Inter-city rail
| status = Discontinued
| locale = Alberta, Canada
| first =
| last = October 26, 1985
| operator =
| formeroperator = Via Rail, Canadian Pacific Railway
| ridership =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| start = Tower Centre, Calgary
| stops = 16 (1970)
7 (1985)
| end = Strathcona (1972–1985)
Edmonton (1913–1972)
| distance = {{convert|312|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 3 hr 10 min
| frequency = Two daily round trips
| trainnumber = 195, 197 (northbound)
194, 196 (southbound)
| class =
| access =
| seating =
| sleeping =
| autorack =
| catering =
| observation =
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| otherfacilities =
| stock =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg}}
| el =
| speed =
| owners = Canadian Pacific Railway
| map_state = collapsed
| map = {{Calgary–South Edmonton train map}}
}}
The Calgary–South Edmonton train, at times the Calgary–Edmonton train, was a Canadian passenger train service between Alberta's two most populous cities: Calgary and Edmonton. Intermediate stops along the corridor were in Didsbury, Olds, Innisfail, Red Deer, and Wetaskiwin. Rail service was replaced with buses in 1985.
History
In 1891, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway completed a rail line from Calgary to "South Edmonton", an area south of Edmonton across the North Saskatchewan River. The trip initially took around 12 hours.{{cite web |title=Trains in Calgary |url=https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/trains-in-calgary |website=www.visitcalgary.com |publisher=Tourism Calgary |access-date=September 24, 2021 |language=en}}
In 1899, South Edmonton was incorporated as the Town of Strathcona. This town was merged into Edmonton in 1912, becoming the Strathcona neighborhood.{{Cite web |url=http://www.albertarailwaymuseum.com/a-brief-history-of-albertas-railways.html |title=A Brief History of Alberta's Railways |work=The Alberta Railway Museum |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322075533/http://www.albertarailwaymuseum.com/a-brief-history-of-albertas-railways.html |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
On January 8, 1904, the Canadian Pacific Railway acquired control of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway.{{cite web |title=The Calgary and Edmonton Railway |url=https://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Chapters-7-3/ |website=Atlas of Alberta Railways |publisher=University of Alberta Press |access-date=September 24, 2021 |date=2005}} To better compete with the Canadian Northern Railway, the CP built the High Level Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River and extended service to the downtown Edmonton station on September 2, 1913.{{Cite web|url = http://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2014/11/24/tracks-into-the-past/|title = Tracks Into the Past|date = November 24, 2014|access-date = March 16, 2015|website = Edmonton City As Museum Project|last = Herzog|first = Lawrence}} This lasted until October 29, 1972, when service was cut back to again terminate at Strathcona station.{{Cite book|title = The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore: An Illustrated History of Railway Stations in Canada|last = Brown|first = Ron|publisher = Dundurn|date = August 30, 2014|isbn = 978-1459727816|edition = 4 }}{{cite web |title=CP Rail Timetable |url=https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer?token=082501ae-e59d-4d93-96d8-d243f216b2ee |publisher=Canadian Pacific Railway |access-date=September 24, 2021 |pages=7 |date=October 29, 1972}}
In 1978, Via Rail assumed operation of the route alongside the rest of Canadian Pacific's passenger trains. Under Via, the train ran from Tower Centre in Calgary through Red Deer to Strathcona in Edmonton. Timetables listed the latter stop as "South Edmonton" to distinguish it from the downtown Edmonton station built by the Canadian National Railway. Service consisted of two daily round trips, taking about 3 hours 10 minutes to traverse the {{convert|312|km|mi|abbr=on}} route.{{cite web |title=Western Transcontinental Services |url=https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer?token=10ff4f46-fed1-4016-baee-2882871097ff |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=September 24, 2021 |pages=17 |date=October 29, 1978}}
On October 27, 1985, the train was discontinued and replaced with motorcoach bus service via Alberta Highway 2.{{cite web |title=System Timetable |url=https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer?token=f89fa617-e49f-4fa9-b614-da362a305b35 |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=September 24, 2021 |pages=50 |date=October 27, 1985}}
Proposed restoration
{{Main|High-speed rail in Canada#Calgary–Edmonton}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{VIA Rail}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calgary-South Edmonton train}}
Category:Railway services discontinued in 1985