High Level Bridge Streetcar — Local services in Greater Strathcona

We arrived 10/15 mins before the first train was set to leave to find a large crowd already waiting, so we couldn’t board the first train - which was fine because they were there first so we didn’t pay too much attention to the people getting on. We were told it would be a 40-minute wait for the next one, so we paid and decided to wait. However, we quickly realized there was no line up, no tickets with numbers showing who arrived in what order - just a chaotic “first on, first served” system, which makes no sense to me personally.

Even after waiting nearly an hour in the heat, more people kept arriving and simply stood wherever they pleased. We asked the staff member collecting payments how boarding was organized, and he just said, “If you miss this one, you can catch the next,” which would be another 40-minute wait. It didn’t matter if you’d been there five minutes or an hour - everyone had the same chance of getting on.

When the train finally arrived, it was a mad crush to make it on, many who had just shown up managed to get seats, while those of us who had been waiting were left to stand or some didn’t make it on at all. It wasn’t until the return journey - thankfully, we bought return tickets - that we finally got to sit and enjoy the ride.

It feels incredibly unfair that there’s no system in place to prioritize those who’ve waited patiently, while others can push ahead and be rewarded for it. I will say that the actual staff were very friendly and did their best with what they had, I just think a little organization would go a long way here to make this a more positive experience...

Had a pretty good experience today with my wife and her friend. Got to talk to the tickets sales gentleman while waiting to board the street car from the Jasper Plaza station. Everything was going so smoothly until we got to Strathcona station. Street car 33 was derailed causing a short end to our adventure. No big deal we got off and walked into Whyte Ave and had our lunch. It was when we had gotten back to where we were dropped off to get back on the return trip is when things got a little sour. We arrived back 3:30 and wait for a little while until two gentlemen a approached us telling us that we have missed the last street car? I was confused as to how we missed it as the website clearly shows the last one is 3:42 from what I could tell. Our vehicle is parked at Jasper Plaza parking lot and we had no way to get back. I got talking to one of the gentleman which the name Mike Stern I believe that's his name. Voiced my frustration towards the issue as to why we weren't notified when we got off the train that when the next one was going to be leaving was exactly 3:30 or whatever time they had mentioned the train was leaving and it was overbooked. So the likely hood of fitting on it wasn't going to happen anyways. But Mike looked after us and refunded my money so my wife and I and her friend could afford a cab back to the parking lot. Thanks for helping us out would like to ride the street car again and take a tour around the museum next time. Highly recommended try the High level bridge Street car.... Worth the 8 bucks a person. Plus kids 5 and under...

Kudos to the (volunteer) fellas who operate and manage this Edmonton icon. Keep up the good work, your service, commitment and dedication to preserving history, teaching all about it and providing a professional demeanour does not go unnoticed!

The trip itself is 'short & sweet' and well worth admission for sightseeing or traversing from Whyte Ave to the Downtown core.

As a history buff myself, I enjoyed learning some facts and history regarding the High Level Streetcar and Edmonton from yesteryear.

Special recognition to the fellas working on Monday afternoon who helped us find a seat just before departure downtown to accommodate a weary and tired Grandma who had been walking all throughout downtown Edmonton during the day and was exhausted by the time we reached our return trip home.

They politely asked a full, 'standing room only' streetcar for a volunteer to give up their seat. Many ppl offered, only one was needed. Thank you for taking the initiative and thank you to all those who offered (and special thanks to the individual whose seat was ultimately offered up...thank you kind stranger!!) Humanity is alive and well within our vibrant community!

Highly recommend this trip. All of the members are volunteers and they work hard and do their jobs very well to provide a unique and interesting service to the people of Edmonton and...