The LRV experience

The Green Line’s Urbos 100 low floor Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) are the first of their kind in Canada. Low floor LRV technology has been the standard in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand for decades. It’s now becoming the choice for new LRT systems across North America and marks an exciting step for Calgary’s transit network.

These LRVs have much lower floors (34 cm from the tracks), with level docking platforms and roomy entrances that provide for a safer and more-convenient boarding for riders and significant cost savings in building the supporting stations platforms.

1. Door status indicators – LED lights on the doors turn green to indicate door availability and platform side. Red lights indicate the door is unavailable.
2. Passenger emergency intercoms – Eight per vehicle, which allow passengers to communicate with the operator in case of an emergency. Operators and staff in the Transit Control Centre can also communicate to passengers using this system.
3. Emergency touch strips – Allows passengers to initiate an emergency if they are not standing next to a passenger emergency intercom. Touch strips are silent alarms that don’t draw attention when touched. The operator will be alerted, and the two nearest cameras will be activated for the operator to view and assess the situation.
4. Security cameras – Five external, four in the operator’s cab, and eight in the passenger area. Footage is recorded on a local network video recorder and can be viewed live from the operator’s cab and remotely at the Transit Control Centre.

5. Carbody crashworthiness – Carbody design incorporates crash energy management elements to ensure the vehicle itself mitigates as much damage to the carbody in the event of a collision with a pedestrian, road vehicle or another LRV.

6. Three braking methods – for guaranteed braking under all conditions.

7. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning – Three units per vehicle to keep passengers comfortable.

8. Operator on board at all times.

1. Easy to board – LRVs are level with station platforms and there are no steps.
2. Spacious interior – Room to easily move around.
3. Double doors – Three sets of spacious doors for people with mobility aids or strollers to enter/exit.
4. Designated mobility aid areas – Three per vehicle for people with mobility aids, strollers or bikes. These areas are located between each set of double doors.
5. Button to extend door opening time – Pressing this button allows passengers to extend the nearest door’s opening time, providing additional time to depart the train.
6. Passenger information displays - 12 per vehicle to display time, next stop, transit connections and other information for passengers.