More MARC follies on the Penn Line
Eric Luebehusen, a regular Penn Line rider and a faithful correspondent on all matters MARC-related, provides this account of the morning's Penn Line follies. The event two weeks ago was a fiasco in which one train ended up taking a journey of at least 3 1/2 hours between Baltimore and Washington.
Thought I'd pass along my experience from this morning. It was almost a carbon copy of the fiasco from 2 weeks ago, except this time I was on my regular train.
Train #407 (6:30 Halethorpe) apparently broke down at Odenton this morning... this is the same train that broke down last time.
Train #509 (6:38 Halethorpe) was instructed to couple with and push the disabled 407. Last time, I managed to get on board this one. Today, I missed it.
Train #411 (7:13 Halethorpe) arrived to Halethorpe on time, and I got on. We were held up for 20 minutes or so as the 2 trains in front of us sorted out what needed to be done.
The net result for me, was only a 20-30 minute delay... while the trains in front were delayed a bit more (I think 50 minutes or so). Not a good start to the week mind you - and certainly highlights the need for new equipment yesterday - but with a plan (and the right cables), no one was forced to arrive at work at lunchtime.
Anyway... seems like they more or less got this one right.
By the way, the Maryland Transit Administration still classifies this morning's MARC operations as having "minor" disruptions. Jeff Quinton of insidecharmcity.com was kind enough to pass along a log of what "minor" means to the MTA. See it below:
July 20, 2009 5:54 AM
Brunswick Line: Train 890 approaching Dickerson operating 13 minutes late due to switch problems
6:49 AM
Brunswick: Train 892 approaching Barnesville operating 18 minutes late due to switch problems
7:03 AM
Penn Line: Train 407 holding at Odenton with mechanical problems Updates to follow
7:15 AM
Penn: Train 509 at Odenton Station assisting disabled 407 expect delays Updates to follow
7:21 AM
Penn: Train 506 and 406 holding in Washington until further notice Updates to follow
7:31 AM
Update:Train 506 canceled Train 406 departed Washington making all 506 stops to Baltimore
7:33 AM
Penn: Train 521 canceled from Perryville to Baltimore Amtrak trying to make arrangement
7:39 AM
Update:Train 407 departed Odenton 50 minutes late Train 509 departed Odenton Station 40 minutes late
7:45 AM
Brunswick: Train 894 approaching Barnesville operating 15 minutes late due to mechanical problems
7:55 AM
Penn: Train 417 8:10am departure expect delays updates to follow
7:57 AM
Penn: Train 408 expect 30 minutes or more delay out of Washington Updates to follow
8:12 AM
Penn Line Commuters Amtrak 183 will make stops at Perryville, Aberdeen, Edgewood and Martins Airport en route to Baltimore
8:31 AM
Update:Train 417 departed Baltimore 12-15 minutes late
8:34 AM
Update:Train 408 departed Washington 44 minutes late as an express making a stop at BWI
9:13 AM
Train 410 approaching Odenton operating 15 minutes late
9:28 AM
Train 419 approaching West Baltimore operating 15 minutes late
Comments
MARC has a RSS feed now with delay info.
So, when I scanned this morning, MARC had covered the issue mentioned in this post, but also noted several switch-related delays on the Brunswick Line and 2 cancelled trains, with Amtrak picking up passengers for one of the nixed trains north of B-more (the other train was coming out of DC I think).
Another banner day.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 20, 2009 10:18 AM
It is interesting to note that train 411, though delayed by 20+ min, was not mentioned at all in the announcements.
Also, I was on the 411, which is normally a standing-room only train by the time we reach Odenton, but today, I didn't notice any standees. Guess most of those folks got on the delayed train(s) in front of us.
Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2009 10:53 AM
As a commenter on my blog post last week noted, the new schedule today added a College Park stop on the 7:20 Camden departure on the Camden Line. As she pointed out, that train is normally standing room as an express. Today, they ran it a car short on the first day with the new stop.
Posted by: Jeff Quinton | July 20, 2009 11:06 AM
not to mention train 849 on the camden line (the most crowded and usually anexpress train) was running on car short and they added a new stop this morning at college park. The MTA sent out a message sunday night suggesting regular 849 riders try taking an earlier train or the penn line to avoid overcrowding.
This train used to have 2 double deckers - now we're lucky to even get one. It's overcrowded and standing room only on a normal day.
Posted by: anonymous | July 20, 2009 11:15 AM
Maybe if those new locomotives had been put in place when they were promised, these delays would have been avoided. I'm at the point where if the 407 train is 15 minutes late to Odenton, I'm better off taking Metro from New Carollton.
Posted by: Sean McGraw | July 20, 2009 1:21 PM
I read on the Baltimore Transit Co. boards that the reason for the delay is MTA will not pay to certify the locomotives for 100mph+ useage, and they are not allowed to operate on the NEC track due to that.
Is there any truth to that?
COMMENT: I have heard that rumor, too, and the MTA denies it. They say there's no fee and that they're in the process of being certified for 100+ speeds. If anyone can prove them wrong, let me know.
Posted by: Jed | July 20, 2009 4:10 PM