MARC-watch calling it a week
It looks like a pretty good night on MARC, at least judging by the MTA's web site and the lack of plaintive emails. So Getting There is calling it a week and will be taking off Monday.
With the heat in the 100s, it was rough Tuesday and Wednesday. The delays were many, and the cancellations had to be frustrating.But Thursday was better and Friday much better.
But who out there wouldn't agree it could have been a whole lot worse? No hour-long strandings between stations. No near-riots on board. Some attempts by Amtrak crews to communicate when there were problems.
Maybe there are glimmers of progress here. We'll see. There's a lott of summer yet ahead.
Comments
There should be more to "MARC-watch" than just reposting a select amount of the emails sent out by MTA. Far more happens than what MTA describes in their emails.
For "a pretty good night on MARC", you failed to mention:
(sent Fri 7/9/2010 7:09 PM): MARC Train 441 from Baltimore/Penn (625 pm Departure) to Union station is currently disabled at BWI. Expect delays. Update to follow.
(sent Fri 7/9/2010 7:42 PM) UPDATE: Amtrak Train 85 will be accommodating passengers for MARC train 441 to Washington/Union station at BWI & New Carrollton.
(Fri 7/9/2010 8:22 PM) MARC Train 442 from Washington/Union Station (740 pm Departure) to Baltimore/Penn station is operating 30 minutes late due to late crew and equipment arrival.
(Fri 7/9/2010 8:28 PM) MARC Train 856 from Washington/Union Station (735 pm Departure) enroute to Baltimore/Camden station is operating 15 minutes late due to congestion.
I was on MARC # 856. The "congestion" had something to do with the stream of Penn Line passengers who kept coming and going from the train as it tried to leave Union Station. MARC delayed the train from its scheduled 7:35pm departure time to 7:40pm so as to allow Penn Line riders who would have normally taken the MARC # 442 (with a 7:40pm departure time) the chance of taking the Camden train as an alternative. They even announced that MARC # 856 was stopping at St. Denis, presumably as a way to allow Penn Line riders who normally go to Halethorpe a chance to get off at the nearest (1.5+ miles) Camden stop.
I don't know how long it took MARC # 442 to finally leave Union Station, but many of the Penn Line passengers who hopped on this Camden line train must have been told that it was a serious delay, as they were scrambling to figure out how they were going to get to BWI, Penn Station, etc. from the Camden stops. As I mentioned, other Penn Line passengers aboard were either confused or had second thoughts, as the train stopped not far after pulling out of station to allow these passengers to get off the train while it was still in Union Station.
Posted by: MARC CRAM | July 12, 2010 12:47 PM