Edmonton Streetcars

Volunteer-Driven Heritage

The Edmonton Radial Railway Society (ERRS), founded in 1980, is a wholly volunteer-run heritage preservation organization. Their mission is to restore, maintain, and operate historic streetcars from Edmonton’s former electric railway system, ensuring that this aspect of local transit history remains alive and accessible.

Fleet & Restoration

ERRS is custodial of Western Canada’s largest collection of heritage streetcars: over twenty-five in total, with approximately nine in seasonal service, two undergoing active restoration, and the remainder stored awaiting future work. Restoration projects are immense undertakings, often spanning decades and involving thousands of volunteer hours to rebuild dilapidated cars like Edmonton 33 from scratch.

Ride Locations

Visitors can ride streetcars in two unique settings. At Fort Edmonton Park, a one-kilometre line runs within the living history museum, offering a nostalgic journey among costumed interpreters. The High Level Bridge streetcar route provides a scenic ride from Whyte Avenue through a historic CPR tunnel and over the North Saskatchewan River, ending at Jasper Plaza near downtown.

Visitor Experience

Rides are purchasable in cash only upon boarding—no reservations or electronic payments are accepted. Fares are modest, with family and round-trip options available. Accessibility is limited due to the heritage nature of vehicles, though a wheelchair-accessible car may be in service on weekends, and ramps are available at select stops. Space for strollers is constrained, and pets are allowed at the conductor’s discretion.

Special Services & Community Engagement

ERRS offers streetcar charters for private events—weddings, anniversaries, corporate gatherings—over the river valley on the High Level Bridge, complete with museum barn tours. They also welcome public involvement through membership, donations, and volunteer opportunities across carpentry, restoration, archives, guiding, and marketing efforts.

Historical Significance

Streetcar service in Edmonton originally ran from 1908 to 1951. ERRS’s efforts reclaim this heritage, restoring cars such as Edmonton 1 (built 1908), 33 (restored after 17 years of volunteer labour), and others, preserving physical links to early 20th-century transit.

Final Thoughts

With hands-on restoration, immersive heritage rides, and community-driven operations, Edmonton Streetcars offer both locals and visitors a meaningful way to engage with the city’s transit legacy in a heartfelt, authentic setting.