For residents and visitors to Edmonton, navigating the ETS (Edmonton Transit Service) public transportation system has become much easier thanks to digitalization. Whereas previously you had to look for paper brochures or call an operator, today you can find out when your bus or train will arrive in a matter of seconds in several ways. Below is a detailed overview of all available tools — from mobile apps to SMS services for those who do not have access to the internet.
1. Official Trip Planner and third-party mobile apps
The most modern and convenient way to plan your trips is to use specialized apps. ETS officially cooperates with the Transit app platform, which is considered the main recommended tool for navigating the city.
Transit app is an app that uses real-time data. This means that you see not just a “paper” schedule, but the actual location of the bus on the map. The app shows the exact arrival time, taking into account traffic jams, weather conditions, or delays. In addition, it has a crowdsourcing feature: when you ride the bus with the app turned on, your phone transmits accurate traffic data to other users, increasing the accuracy of the system.
An alternative is Google Maps, which is also integrated with the ETS system. It is ideal for routing from point A to point B, showing combinations of buses and LRT, walking times, and transfers. While Google Maps is convenient for general planning, experienced users note that for tracking a specific bus in real time, the Transit app often works more accurately and updates faster.
ETS has also recently updated its own web tool, ETS Trip Planner, on edmonton.ca. It is now an internal city tool that is directly connected to the dispatch system, ensuring the latest official data on schedule changes.
2. SMS service: Checking without the internet
What if you've run out of mobile data or don't have access to Wi-Fi? ETS offers an extremely useful SMS schedule check feature that works on any mobile phone, even a push-button phone.
To use the service:
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Find the bus stop number. This is a 4- or 5-digit number that is always displayed on the blue bus stop sign.
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Create a new SMS message to the short number 31100.
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In the text of the message, enter the stop number and send it.
Example: If the stop number is 1234, write “1234” and send it to 31100.
- In a few seconds, you will receive an automatic reply with a list of the next buses arriving at this stop.
If there are many routes stopping at the stop and you need a specific one, you can refine your request. Enter the stop number, a space, and the route number.
Example: “1234 8” (where 1234 is the stop and 8 is the bus number). The system will send the arrival time for route #8 only.
This service is free from the city, but your mobile operator may charge a standard SMS fee.
3. LRT (Light Rail Transit) schedule features
The LRT system in Edmonton has its own schedule features that are important to remember. Trains do not always have a fixed “minute-by-minute” schedule like buses, but often run on an interval basis (frequency-based).
Capital Line (from Clareview to Century Park) and Metro Line (from NAIT to Health Sciences/Jubilee):
During rush hour (weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.), trains run very frequently — every 5-6 minutes (Capital Line) or 12 minutes (Metro Line). During this time, you don't need to check the schedule — just go to the station, and the train will arrive soon.
In the evening and on weekends, the interval increases to 15 minutes. In this case, it is worth checking the schedule in advance so you don't have to wait on a cold platform.
Valley Line (new line from 102 Street to Mill Woods):
This line operates on the most intensive schedule. During peak hours, trains run every 5 minutes, during the day — every 10 minutes, and in the evening — every 15 minutes.
Keep in mind that late at night (after 1:00 a.m.), LRT service stops, and night buses (Night Ride) may run on some routes instead, but their network is much more limited.
4. Interactive maps and tracking sites
For those who like visualization, there are sites like Transit55.ca. It is an unofficial but very popular resource among locals. It displays a “live” map of the city with all ETS buses moving in real time. You can click on any bus on the map to see its route number, speed, and exact location. This is especially useful in winter: you can sit in the warmth of your home or office, watching the bus “icon” on the map, and go to the stop exactly one minute before it arrives.
Summary: What to choose?
For planning a complex route with transfers: use Google Maps or the Transit app.
For daily trips when you know the route but want to know where the bus is: use the Transit app or Transit55.ca.
For a quick check at the stop if you don't have internet: send an SMS to 31100.
For LRT during rush hour: just go to the station, trains run frequently. In the evening, it's better to check the app.