Are there any mobile apps for tracking public transportation?

In Calgary, Alberta's second-largest city, public transport passengers have a wide range of mobile apps and tech solutions at their disposal for planning trips, track CTrain buses and trains in real time, and purchase and use e-tickets. The city's mobile transit app ecosystem has evolved over the past fifteen years, from basic integration with Google Maps in 2009 to today's comprehensive solutions with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Calgary Transit Official Apps

Transit — Primary Recommended App

Calgary Transit officially recommends the Transit mobile app as the primary tool for trip planning and real-time transit tracking. This international app operates in over 300 cities worldwide and offers the most comprehensive functionality for Calgary passengers.

Key features of Transit:

  • Multimodal route planning, including buses, CTrain, electric scooter and e-bike rentals (Neuron, Bird), car sharing, and walking routes
  • Real-time arrival times for all Calgary Transit routes with automatic data updates
  • Integration with Calgary myID to purchase monthly passes directly through the app
  • Gamification of travel through the Transit Royale system with social competitions and rankings
  • Crowdsourced information — users can rate stops, vehicle condition, accessibility, and safety
  • Machine learning to improve arrival prediction accuracy based on historical data and current traffic conditions

A special feature of Transit is the ability to purchase monthly passes starting on the 15th of the previous month, but they can only be activated at the beginning of the corresponding month. Users must choose between Transit or My Fare to use electronic monthly passes, as simultaneous use of both apps is not possible due to myID system restrictions.

My Fare — Official mobile payment app

My Fare is Calgary Transit's official app for purchasing and using electronic tickets and passes. Launched in 2020 in partnership with Masabi, the app provides contactless payment for travel via smartphone.

My Fare features:

  • Purchase tickets and passes: single-use tickets (valid for 90 minutes), day passes (valid until 2:00 a.m. the following day), monthly passes
  • Support for special fares: UPass for students, discounted passes for low-income individuals, passes for seniors
  • Various payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay
  • Group purchases: up to 5 single tickets or 2 day passes per transaction; maximum of 10 single tickets and 4 day passes per day
  • Integration with myID: required for purchasing monthly and discounted passes

New 2025 validation system:

On July 16, 2025, Calgary Transit introduced a new system of mandatory validation of mobile tickets before entering CTrain platforms. This decision was made after it was found that 46% of adult passengers and 50% of younger passengers did not activate their tickets correctly. Mobile ticket users must now purchase, activate, and scan their tickets at validators before entering the train platform. There are 112 validators installed at 45 CTrain stations, with the ability to add additional devices during peak periods.

On Demand Calgary Transit

On Demand Calgary Transit is a specialized app for ordering on-demand transportation in areas where there are no regular bus routes. Developed by Via Transportation, this service provides flexible transportation services.

Features of the On Demand service:

  • On-demand trip booking with specified pick-up and drop-off points
  • Shared transportation — up to 5 passengers in one vehicle
  • Accessibility for people with disabilities — option to order transportation equipped for wheelchairs
  • Support for pets, luggage, and strollers (within reason)
  • Wait time: up to 30 minutes for regular orders, 30-60 minutes during peak hours
  • 10-minute boarding window with real-time vehicle location tracking

Payment is made through Calgary Transit passes, Transit or My Fare apps — cash is not accepted.

High-quality third-party apps

Calgary Transit Real Time

Calgary Transit Real Time, developed by Bhanu Munjal, is one of the most popular third-party apps for tracking Calgary transit, with over 10,000+ downloads on the Google Play Store.

Advanced features:

  • Dynamic real-time updates every 30 seconds for buses and CTrain trains
  • Interactive map showing the current location of vehicles
  • Universal search by stop name, stop number, or route number
  • Search radius settings for nearby stops with the option to save to “favorites”
  • Improved trip planner (version 5.1.0) with highlighted routes on the map for better visibility
  • Manage favorite stops directly from the “favorites” page

The app receives mixed user reviews — some praise it for its user-friendly interface, while others complain about the inaccuracy of arrival times, especially for certain stops.

Moovit

Moovit is an international platform serving over 106 countries worldwide, including full support for Calgary Transit. With a 4.8-star rating and over 10 million downloads, Moovit offers a comprehensive solution for urban mobility.

Moovit's comprehensive functionality:

  • Full coverage of Calgary Transit: 271 bus routes and 57 CTrain stations with real-time schedules
  • Step-by-step route instructions with automatic notifications when you need to get off
  • Offline maps with the ability to plan routes without an internet connection
  • Multimodal integration with other modes of transportation, including car sharing and bike sharing
  • Fare information with links to Calgary Transit's official channels
  • Notifications about service changes and temporary traffic restrictions

MonTransit (Calgary Transit Bus)

Calgary Transit Bus by MTransit Apps is a plugin for the MonTransit ecosystem, which is an open and free solution for tracking public transport.

Open platform features:

  • Uses official GTFS data directly from Calgary Transit and the City of Calgary
  • Integrates with Twitter for news and updates from @CalgaryTransit
  • Saves home and work locations for quick access to routes
  • Open source code — the project is available on GitHub for developers
  • Compatible with the MonTransit ecosystem for comprehensive management of various transportation systems

Apps for static information and guides

Calgary Train Guide — CTrain

Calgary Train Guide by Wm Dev Technology is a specialized offline app designed for navigating the CTrain system and MAX buses.

Offline features:

  • Plan routes between CTrain stations and MAX lines without the need for internet
  • Fare calculator to estimate the cost of your trip
  • High-resolution map with zoom and detailed route viewing features
  • Information about the nearest stations based on your current location
  • Linear navigation with detailed information on each CTrain line

Calgary Guide and Subway Map

Calgary Guide and Subway Map by Yaroslav Mykolaienko combines transportation system navigation with a tourist guide to the city.

Multifunctional features:

  • Interactive subway maps for detailed trip planning
  • Tourist guide with addresses of major landmarks and points of interest
  • Flight information with real-time updates on departures and arrivals
  • Emergency contacts for quick communication with police, ambulance, and fire services

Integration with general mapping services

Google Maps

Google Maps has supported Calgary Transit since 2009, making it one of the oldest and most reliable ways to plan public transportation trips. The integration includes detailed bus routes, nearby CTrain stations, schedules and transfers, as well as walking routes with map support.

Advantages of Google Maps:

  • High arrival accuracy — Reddit users note better accuracy compared to specialized transportation apps
  • Real-time bus tracking with indication of delays or early arrivals
  • Integration with general navigation for combined trips by transport and on foot
  • Constant updates and improvements to prediction algorithms

Apple Maps

Apple Maps added support for Calgary Transit in 2017, just in time for the Calgary Stampede. The service provides comprehensive transit data coverage, including all station entrances and departure times.

Features of Apple Maps for Calgary:

  • Comprehensive transit data for the CTrain system and all bus routes
  • Extended regional support — also covers bus systems in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat
  • Detailed station mapping with all entrances and exits
  • Integration with the Apple ecosystem for seamless use across all devices

Citymapper

Although Citymapper does not have official support for Calgary, it remains one of the most popular transportation apps in the world with a 4.8-star rating and over 10 million downloads. The app operates in over 400 major cities worldwide and offers unique capabilities for planning multimodal trips.

Technical infrastructure and data accuracy

CAD/AVL/APIS system and future improvements

In 2025, Calgary Transit contracted Consat Telematics to upgrade its Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), and Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS). The new system aims to:

  • Improve the passenger experience through seamless real-time information
  • Optimize operational efficiency through improved schedule adherence
  • Enhance passenger and employee safety
  • Provide scalability for future transportation needs

Accuracy and reliability issues

Research shows that Calgary Transit's real-time systems have accuracy limitations due to several factors:

Technical limitations:

  • GTFS updates approximately every 50 seconds, which can cause delays in information updates
  • GPS tracking failures — some buses periodically fail to transmit their location
  • User dependency — apps such as Transit rely on users to activate GPS tracking during their trip

Operational factors affecting accuracy:

  • Seasonal changes: winter conditions increase travel time by approximately one minute per kilometer
  • Traffic lights: each intersection adds additional time to the total travel time
  • CTrain crossings: add nearly one minute of delay per section
  • Peak hours: morning trips are typically faster than afternoon trips

Accessibility and inclusivity

Accessibility features in mobile apps

Calgary Transit provides accessibility for people with varying levels of mobility through several key initiatives:

Physical accessibility:

  • The entire fleet is accessible to people with limited mobility
  • CTrain and buses are equipped with ramps that can be lowered to facilitate boarding
  • All 45 CTrain stations have elevators, ramps, or ground-level access
  • Low-floor buses serve all 155 routes

Digital accessibility: Mobile apps support various accessibility features, although not all bus stops are physically accessible. Passengers are encouraged to call 403-262-1000 to confirm the accessibility of specific stops.

Calgary Transit Access

Calgary Transit Access provides specialized transportation services for people with disabilities who are unable to use regular Calgary Transit services. The application process includes:

  • Completing an application form with medical verification from a doctor
  • An in-person interview to determine eligibility
  • Telephone support at 403-537-7777 for inquiries

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Calgary

WAV Calgary is a pilot program for centralized dispatch of all wheelchair-accessible taxis. The service includes:

  • Mobile app, website, and phone booking at 403-974-1110
  • Regular taxi meter rates with no additional fees
  • Service throughout Calgary with no pre-registration

Alternative methods of obtaining information

Teleride — Telephone System

Teleride remains an important alternative for those who cannot or do not want to use mobile apps. The system works by calling 403-974-4000 and providing the four-digit stop number to get the current or future arrival time.

SMS and text messages

Passengers can also receive schedule information by sending a text message with the four-digit bus number. This option is particularly useful for people with limited access to smartphones or the internet.

Data Security and Privacy

Mobile App Privacy Policy

Most Calgary Transit mobile apps collect various types of personal data:

Tracked Data:

  • Location data to determine the nearest stops
  • Device identifiers to personalize services
  • Usage data for analytics and service improvement

User-related data (in My Fare and On Demand):

  • Purchase information for payment processing
  • Contact information for receipts and communication
  • Financial data for transaction processing

Payment security

Calgary Transit uses industry-standard security for mobile payments:

  • Data encryption for all financial transactions
  • Dynamic QR codes that change for each use
  • PCI DSS compliance for credit card processing
  • Tokenization to protect stored payment data

Future developments and innovations

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

The Transit app uses advanced machine learning technologies to improve prediction accuracy:

  • Analysis of historical data to identify delay patterns
  • Real-time traffic conditions for dynamic adjustment of predictions
  • Weather conditions as a factor in arrival time calculations
  • Crowdsourcing data from users to improve accuracy

Integration with smart city

Calgary is developing the integration of transportation apps with the broader smart city infrastructure:

  • Integration with traffic systems to optimize public transportation
  • Coordination with emergency services for rapid response to incidents
  • Environmental data to inform passengers about the impact of their trips on the environment

Recommendations for different types of users

For daily commuters

Recommended set of apps:

  1. Transit — as the primary app for planning and monthly passes
  2. Google Maps — as a backup for checking time accuracy
  3. My Fare — for one-time ticket purchases without a myID account

For tourists and visitors

Optimal solution:

  1. Calgary Guide and Subway Map — for general orientation in the city
  2. Moovit — for detailed planning with step-by-step instructions
  3. My Fare — for quick purchase of day passes

For people with special needs

Specialized solutions:

  1. On Demand Calgary Transit — for areas without regular service
  2. WAV Calgary — for accessible taxis
  3. Transit — with accessibility features and integration with Calgary Transit Access

For tech enthusiasts

Open and technical solutions:

  1. MonTransit — for working with open GTFS data
  2. Calgary Transit Real Time — for detailed real-time tracking
  3. API access — for developing your own solutions (planned for 2024-2025)

Conclusions and overall assessment

The ecosystem of mobile applications for public transport in Calgary is a mature and diverse system that meets the needs of different categories of passengers. With more than a dozen solutions available, from official Calgary Transit apps to international platforms such as Moovit and Google Maps, passengers have an unprecedented choice of tools for planning and tracking their trips. Key strengths of the system:

  • Variety of choices, from simple tracking apps to comprehensive planning systems
  • Real-time tracking of most buses and all CTrain trains
  • Payment integration through multiple secure platforms
  • Accessibility for people with different needs and technical capabilities
  • Continuous innovation using AI, machine learning, and crowdsourcing

Challenges and limitations:

  • Accuracy issues due to GPS technical limitations and occasional outages
  • The complexity of choosing between different apps can be overwhelming for new users
  • Reliance on technology may create barriers for less tech-savvy users
  • Fragmentation—the need to use multiple apps for full functionality

Calgary continues to invest in modernizing its transportation technology infrastructure, including a new CAD/AVL/APIS system and improvements to mobile ticket validation. These investments promise to further improve the accuracy, reliability, and convenience of mobile transportation applications in the coming years, making Calgary's public transportation even more accessible and attractive to all residents and visitors to the city.