Calgary Transit has taken nearly two dozen of its shuttle buses off the road as a safety measure after one of the vehicles was destroyed by fire earlier this month.
Precautionary Removal Following December Blaze
The city's transit department confirmed it has temporarily removed 19 shuttle buses from service. This decision was made as a standard precaution after a fire of unknown origin consumed one of the identical model buses on December 12.
"As a precautionary measure, we've temporarily removed the remaining 19 shuttles of the same model series from service," stated Calgary Transit in an email release. "This is a standard safety step to ensure there are no risks to staff and the public while we complete the investigation."
Details of the Nose Hill Drive Fire
The incident occurred at 8:05 a.m. on December 12 on Nose Hill Drive N.W., between 87th Street and Stoney Trail. Firefighters responded to find the shuttle bus fully involved.
The bus driver, who was the sole occupant, reported attempting to fight the flames with an on-board fire extinguisher before escaping. After being assessed by emergency medical services, the driver was transported to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The road was temporarily closed during the emergency response.
Service Adjustments and Fleet Renewal Plans
To minimize disruption for riders, Calgary Transit has deployed other shuttle buses to cover the affected routes and has adjusted schedules accordingly. The agency stated, "We will return the shuttles to service once we confirm them to be safe."
This incident comes amid a broader renewal of Calgary Transit's shuttle bus fleet. Over the past year, the service has replaced 70 older shuttle buses that had each accumulated more than 520,000 kilometres with newer, gasoline-powered models. The transit plan calls for swapping out a total of 160 shuttle buses by mid-2026, with the new vehicles touted as offering improved passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
The investigation into the cause of the December 12th fire is ongoing.
