METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Wind-powered rail helps Calgary meet its clean-air goals

At press time, customers of Calgary Transit’s C-Train were to begin riding on the first wind-powered light rail system in North America.

by Ron Collins, Calgary Transit
July 1, 2001
2 min to read


At press time, customers of Calgary Transit’s C-Train were to begin riding on the first wind-powered light rail system in North America. The transit agency’s endeavor to create a light rail system powered only by wind-generated electricity is the product of a partnership between Vision Quest Windelectric, a wind farm in southern Alberta, and Enmax, which supplies electricity to Calgary Transit. Under the innovative program, Vision Quest installed 12 additional turbines at its facility and is selling wind-generated power to Enmax. Calgary Transit’s entire 100-car C-Train fleet will be driven by wind power, resulting in no pollutants being released into the environment. Because of this, the project contributes significantly toward the city of Calgary’s corporate goal to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. “We are a leader in this area and proud of the fact that our customers can ride the C-Train knowing we have taken this significant step toward reducing the environmental impact of urban transportation,” said John Hubbell, general manager of Calgary Transit. Award-winning idea Last spring, Calgary Transit won a Federation of Canadian Municipalities CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Award for its leadership in renewable energy with its “Ride the Wind” project. An estimated 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), mainly generated by the burning of coal or natural gas for the production of electricity, will be precluded from entering the atmosphere by the use of wind-generated electricity for the C-Train. This is equivalent to eliminating 7.5 million vehicle trips in Calgary annually. Other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrous oxide (NOx) will also be reduced. Budget stability, too The program will provide greater budget stability for Calgary Transit by establishing a 10-year price structure for C-Train traction power, which will significantly reduce uncertainty that has resulted from the recent volatility in the price of electricity. Operational costs of using wind-powered generation may increase at a nominal premium of 0.5% per passenger. However, when compared to the environmental benefits, this is a small price to pay. Travel via C-Train provides an environmentally friendly alternative to private vehicles. A three-car C-train carries the passenger equivalent of 545 private vehicles. Since its inception May 25, 1981, 555 million riders have used Calgary’s light rail system. The C-Train carries about 187,700 riders every workday. Statistics show 42% of Calgary residents who work downtown use Calgary Transit.

Topics:Rail
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Rail

Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →
A TriMet MAX Light Rail vehicle overhead shot
Railby StaffFebruary 24, 2026

STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades

The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.

Read More →
HDR rendering of LA to Coachella Valley Rail Project
Railby StaffFebruary 20, 2026

HDR Selected to Advance LA–Coachella Valley Rail Corridor Project

The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rendering of Austin Transit Partnership's light rail line.
Railby StaffFebruary 19, 2026

Contractor Chosen to Help Build Austin Light Rail

The ATP board’s approval of ARC enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities and advance final design for Austin Light Rail under the first phase of what will be a multibillion-dollar contract.

Read More →