COMMUTER CHAOS STORY
Another pedestrian is dead after being hit by light rail train in Calgary
Calgary, Alberta – October 15, 2018
Within hours of an incident earlier today where a 6-year-old girl has been struck and killed by a light rail train, another pedestrian has been hit by a light rail train in Calgary and has died of their injuries.
The Edmonton Sun pointed out that both fatal incidents occurred on level crossings along the LRT line, but this one occurred in a different station vicinity. In this case, a man was hit by a C-Train and was not transported to the hospital as he had been killed instantly by the moving train.
Earlier today, LRT service shut downs from the death of a 6-year-old girl caused service delays for over 3 hours. For the second time today, C-Train service on the Red Line has been disrupted in both directions, and shuttle buses were replacing C-Train service in the area. Long traffic back-ups were reported in both directions, radiating from the incident.
See also: 6-year-old girl struck, killed by light rail train in Calgary
Rough day for the ctrain!
— DCG (@DrunkChefGeorge) October 15, 2018
#yyctraffic Fatal collision involving a pedestrian & CTrain near Macleod Trail & 25th Avenue.
— 660 NEWS Traffic (@660NEWSTraffic) October 15, 2018
Creates long backups in both directions on Macleod Trail--while CTrain is not stopping at Erlton Station & shuttle buses are in operation. pic.twitter.com/D1pZkOxHaU
Calgary “cheaped out in the 80’s”
Earlier today, C-Train passengers had vented their frustration on social media, offering suggestions and posting pictures showing long line-ups, crowds and confusion as a result of the delays. Some people pointed out that “many people had been hit over the years”, as a result of the at-grade running of the system.
Due to an accident CTrains are not moving from Fish Creek to Somerset station #CTRiders. Please catch Shuttle bus from Bus Loop at Fish Creek station and Shawnessy. you can catch Shuttle bus from WB Shawville gate at somerset station. #RedLine #BlueLine #CTBusRoutes
— Calgary Transit (@calgarytransit) October 15, 2018
We need a more secure Xing system. I was shocked when I moved here that I was expected to walk across tracks to get to the other side. You dont do this on Skytrain in YYC or the TTC lines & Go train lines in TO. They all have secured entries for each side. We deserve better!!
— tracy (@tracyinkits) October 15, 2018
There’s barely any guards from 39th avenue south to Somerset. Many people have been hit over the years. it’s 2018, invent something better.
— Colton (@Coltravesty) October 15, 2018
Surrey’s LRT proposal will be prone to fatal collsions.
The proposed Surrey Light Rail Transit system will run at street level on segments of 104th Avenue, King George Boulevard and Fraser Highway. Incidents like this where LRT trains are involved in collisions with vehicles or pedestrians can prove fatal for those who are hit, and generally necessitate complete shut downs of that segment of the LRT system.
Once again, this incident highlights a major, fundamental flaw of the proposed street-running light rail system endorsed by TransLink, the Regional Mayors’ Council, and the City of Surrey. The proposed LRT lines run in the medians of major arterial roads, and would cross through several busy intersections at street level.
Accidents have disrupted light rail service in Calgary in three separate incidents that were highlighted by SkyTrain for Surrey: in May, July and September.
CTrain delays due to car crash w/ LRT at Marlborough. Shuttle busses running. #YYC #YYCtraffic http://t.co/XF6yfA4ltG pic.twitter.com/FoHzRs0fF4
— Erin Lawrence (@tvchick1313) January 10, 2014
SkyTrain for Surrey has called for the cancellation of the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project, the conversion of the Surrey-Langley LRT into a SkyTrain extension of the Expo Line, and the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue (instead of an LRT). With BRT’s ability to detour around accident areas, and SkyTrain’s ability to simply pass overhead, a rapid transit system built on SkyTrain and BRT would not be subject to total disruptions.
Surrey residents expect their future rapid transit system to be trustworthy and reliable. A street-running LRT system will not deliver.
About SkyTrain for Surrey
SkyTrain for Surrey is the community organization that advocated for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension, and continues to push for high-quality rapid transit projects in Surrey and Langley. We began as a petition calling for the scrapping of a street-level LRT proposal, which eventually amassed more than 6,000 signatures, and later contributed to making SkyTrain an election issue as a registered third-party advertiser. SkyTrain for Surrey continues to call for high-quality projects that offer a positive return-on-investment and recognize the rapidly increasing demand for transit.
Media Contact:
Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey
Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]