Details are still sketchy, but the agenda of the Board of Public Works shows that the Maryland Transit Administration has reached a contract agreement with Bombardier Transit Corp. of Montreal to provide 54 multi-level rail cars for the MARC commuter train service at a cost of $153 million.

MTA spokesman Terry Owens said  MARC intends to retire 38 of its older rail cars and to expand its current fleet by 16. Owens said the agency will not discuss further details of the deal until the board acts on the contract.

 Delivery will not necessarily come soon. In past MARC procurements, it has taken multiple years to go from purchase agreement to the start of actual service. But the MTA said that by piggybacking on an order by New Jersey Transit, it will cut an estimated nine months to a year off the procurement process.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

Baltimore didn't have a huge stake in the O'Malley administration's decision on which transit center would become the new home of the Department of Housing and Community Development, but it did have some interest in the outcome. And from a strictly Baltimore-centric point of view, Gov. Martin O'Malley made the right choice.

Of the candidates in Prince George's, New Carrollton is the site with the best links with Baltimore. The transit center the includes a station on the MARC Penn Line, which would make it quite feasible for a department employee to commute from Baltimore, Halethorpe, the BWI area or Odenton via train.

Some of the other possible choices, including the Branch Avenue and Naylor Road Metro stations, would have presented difficult commutes for Baltimore-area workers. Laurel would have been OK, but it's on the slower Camden Line, which offers fewer trains than the Penn.

The department will move to New Carrollton from Crownsville, which will be an inconvenience for department employees who live in Annapolis or on the Eastern Shore. But department employees who live in Baltimore, who now have little choice but to drive, will now have the MARC option. So there will be winners as well as losers.

There's little doubt the No. 1 factor driving the decision is politics. Prince George's has been wanting a slice of the state employment pie for some time. But the transit advantages of the choice are not to be dismissed. And if Prince George's is going to have a growth center, it's best that it be accessible for people throughout Central Maryland. New Carrollton accomplishes that.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

A new Charm City Circulator route to Fort McHenry and a road project intended to reconnect West Baltimore communities divided by the "Highway to Nowhere" will receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, four members of the Maryland congressional delegation announced.

U.S. Sens. Barbara A. Mikuslki and Benjamin L. Cadin, along with U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes said the grants will provide $1.6 million for the new Circulator route and $1.7 million for the reconfiguration of the Fulton Avenue bridge in the part of the  U.S. 40 corridor known as the Highway to Nowhere.

The Circulator grant is expected to help the city get its free "Star Spangled" route in operation in time for the bicentennial observance of the War of 1812. The new route is expected to run from the Inner Harbor to the fort along Fort Avenue on a year-round basis. The grant will be used over three years and will cover 65 percent of the route's cost.

The West Baltimore project will reconfigure the five-lane Fulton bridge to integrate it with a pedestrian-bicycle network and to add landscaping and storm water management improvements. According to the delegation members, the project had been launched but was put on hold when funds ran short.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Compared with recent years, the Maryland Transit Administration hasn't been doing too badly with its MARC service this summer -- until Friday.

With temperatures soaring to well over 100 degrees, the MARC system was plagues by multiple equipment failures that delayed trains up to 75 minutes. The MTA reported that the electric wire that power the trains on the Penn Line were sagging in the heat, forcing single-track operations between Washington and New Carrollton. An Amtrak train that became disabled at New Carrollton had been removed by 6 p.m.

In addition to the usual hot-weather restrictions on the Camden and Brunswick lines, a heat order was issued for the Penn Line holding speeds to 80 mph.

Penn Line Train 443, the 4:50pm departure from Penn Station to Washington, was cancelled, leaving passengers to wait for the 5:20 and 5:25pm trains. The 3:23 p.m. and 4:10 trains out of Washington were running more than 50 minutes late. The 4:20 p.m. out of Washington left Union Station about a half-hour late and was approaching New Carrollton at a crawl, a rider reported. By the time it reached Halethorpe it was running 75 minutes behind schedule. It finally arrived in Baltimore shortly after 6:30 p.m. -- completing a trip of more than two hours.

The 3:30 p.m. Camden Line train out of Baltimore was running a half-hour late as it approached Dorsey on heat-restricted lines that could cause further delays.

With temperatures this high, cascading troubles can be expected through the evening.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

For the second time this week, a MARC Penn Line train has wilted in the summer's heat, leaving passengers sweltering on a stalled train, ride Danielle Shapiro reports.

Shapiro said the northbound train's engine apparently gave out just outside Odenton and left passengers stuck without air-conditioning for about 35 minutes this evening. She said that as of 6:15 p.m. it appeared to be starting again.

Two days ago another Penn Line Train departing Washington stalled out and left passengers stranded for about 40 minutes, Shapiro said.

Summer is historically the time of year that brings MARC to its knees. The Maryland Transit Administration had made schedule and equipment changes in the hope of alleviating such problems, but the recent incidents raise questions about whether those measures are working.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: MARC train
        

The negative reactions to the Maryland Transit Administration's new web site design just keep coming in -- and not just from professional malcontents.

The following criticque comes from Rafi Guroian, chairman of the MARC Riders Advisory Council and an eminently reasonable person. The MTA ought to be listening.

I strongly echo the poster's criticism of the new site. For MARC riders, it's a big step backwards, and I say this as a computer professional who deals on a daily basis with users who resist change even though it's necessary. In this case, it's a step beyond not liking something new.

Continue reading "MARC riders' group rejects new MTA web site" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train, MTA
        

Passengers on the Camden Line were saddened this week at the news that longtime conductor Eric Wolf died Tuesday morning of an apparent heart attack shortly after his train arrived at Washington's Union Station.

According to a statement issued by the Maryland Transit Administration, Wolf (right) had been an employee of CSX Transportation and its predecessor railroads for 38 of his 57 years.

Dave Johnson, chief customer communications officer for MARC, called Wolf "a consummate professional"

"Eric was more than a conductor--he was a jovial, humorous guy who made it a priority to make his passengers smile every day," Johnson said. (A longer version of Johnson's statement, with reaction from MARC riders, is available here.)

Continue reading "Camden Line riders mourn veteran conductor" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: MARC train
        

Jason Ewell, manager of program services at the National Federation of the Blind, has discovered a glitch in the Maryland Transit Administration's phone service listings for MARC trains. It appears the MTA might not have updated its information when it changed its schedule on the Penn Line earlier this year.

Here's Ewell's account:

Just letting you know that nearly two months after the change in the MARC train schedule, the MTA telephone system has still not been updated. The light rail schedule also does not work properly and hasn't for many months. Is there any way you could ask MTA officials why they can't make these simple fixes to their system? I have complained several times to the MTA call center employees, but of course all they can do is pass the complaints along.

Continue reading "Did MTA update its MARC phone line?" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Light rail, MARC train, MTA
        

A recent report that the Maryland Transit Administration had admonished MARC riders to drink responsibly while aboard the trains brought a question from Vincent Toni of Street in Harford County: Why are riders allowed to eat and drink aboard MARC anyway?

Toni comes to that issue from  a perspective that is seldom heard from -- that of the people who have to clean up the mess. The retired carman, whose job it was to clean MARC's passenger cars at the end of the day, said he still recalls the messes made by riders -- peanut shells, empty bottles, even soiled diapers. Why, he wondered, are MASRC riders allowed to eat and drink aboard the trains when riders of buses are not?

Interesting question.

Toni has yet another unflattering memory of the people he used to clean up after: "I'd put extra rolls of toilet paper there and they'd steal them."

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: MARC train
        

The most recent numbers for MARC on-time performance are looking a lot better than they were last year. As of April 25, according to the Maryland Transit Administration, the Penn Line's OTP year to date is 93 percent. That's despite one of the most radical schedule changes in MARC history.

Meanwhile the Camden Line as at 90 percent year to date and the Brunswick Line at 89 percent. That might be short of stellar but it doesn't stink -- at least compared with where MARC was not too long ago.

Of course the real test will be how MARC performs during the hot summer months, which in the mid-Atlantic means May to September. That's been MARC's downfall before.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

If the federal government shuts down because of the current budget impasses, as seems increasingly likely, MARC and commuter bus service will continue on a normal schedule -- at least at first.

The Maryland Transit Administration says that if ridership levels plummet, it might decide to reduce service. But transit riders who work for  non-government employers in Washington -- as well as reverse commuters -- apparently will not be forced into cars because of a shutdown.

Continue reading "MARC, commuter buses to run during shutdown" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Maryland Transit Administration has launched a $21 million project to replace the obsolete Halethorpe MARC station, one of the busiest on the Penn Line, with a modern facility.

Gov. Martin O'Malley joined Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and local lawmakers Monday for a ground-breaking at the old Halethorpe depot.

O'Malley said the new station would include new  and longer platforms, ramps, elevators and a pedestrian bridge. It will also include a new kiss-and-ride lot.

Continue reading "Work on new Halethorpe MARC station starts" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: MARC train
        

A bill intended to put pressure on a French railroad and its U.S. subsidiary to cooperate with Holocaust survivors in efforts to account for the deportation of about 70,000 Jews and others from France to German death camps during World War II has passed both houses of the General Assembly.

Del. Samuel I.  "Sandy" Rosenberg, the House sponsor of the legislation, said the House bill was heavily amended to reflect the results of negotiations between advocates for the deportees and representatives of the French government-owned railroad SNCF and its Rockville-based affiliate Keolis America.

Rosenberg said the Senate bill passed a version close to the original form of the bill, which SNCF and Keolis had said would preclude it from competing to a contract to operate the MARC Brunswick and Camden lines when CSX Transportation relinquishes that role. But the Baltimore Democrat said he expected the Senate to agree to the amendments worked out in the House. He said those changes had been agreed to by the railroad's lobbyist in Annapolis.

Continue reading "Holocaust bill OKd after compromise with railroad" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

The Maryland Transit Administration says operations on the MARC Penn Line have gone well despite some "growing pains" since the commuter rail line made extensive changes to its schedule March 14.

The MTA said commuters are taking some time in adjusting to the changes, which have added two trains each during the  morning an evening rush hours.

The MTA's records paint a more mixed picture, however, showing that MARC has had a mix of very good days and awful days since the change was made.

In a statement posted on its web site,  the MTA said some its trains may appear to be "standing room only" in some cars despite the availability of seats in other cars. The agency said that after receiving complaints about its 4:20 p.m. train leaving Union Station, it found 39 riders standing in three cars but 55 seats available in another two cars.

The MTA said the most crowded train is No. 517, the 6:30 a.m. departure from Perryville, which reaches Penn Station at 7:15 a.m. The MTA urged riders to consider taking Train 415, which leaves Penn Station 10 minutes earlier.

Continue reading "MTA says new MARC schedule going well so far" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

The Maryland Transit Administration will launch a new schedule on its Penn Line Monday, adding eight trains to the schedule in an effort to alleviate overcrowding and improve on-time performance on the Amtrak-operated Penn Line.

The new schedule, which has been in the planning stages for more than a year, is intended to relieve some of the strain on its locomotive fleet by using smaller train sets running at more frequent intervals.

Terry Owens, an MTA spokesman, said MARC officials have been meeting with riders at Penn Line  stations since Feb. 28 and have received a generally  favorable reaction to the changes. The Camden and  Brunswick lines, operated by CSX, will not be affected.

Continue reading "MARC to launch new schedule Monday" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

Del. Sandy Rosenberg reports that the House hearing on the bill he has proposed to require extensive disclosures about the French national railway's World War II activities while under Nazi control if one of its subsidiaries wants to bid for a MARC contract has been postponed from Wednesday until March 3.

The subsidiary, Keolis America, is considered a leading contender for a contract to operate the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines after CSX relinquishes that role. But proponents of the legislation contend its majority owner, the French railway SNCF, has failed to make amends for its role in transporting Jews to Nazi death camps during the German occupation.

With the schedule change, the House and Senate committees considering the bill will hold their hearings on the same day.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Rafi Guroian, chairman of the MARC Riders Advisory Council, said one of the changes that may be in the works as part of the Maryland Transit Administration's revision of the Penn Line schedule is expanded service to the new Hollywood Casino in Perryville.

Guroian said there have been discussions with MARC officials about adding a northbound train in morning and a southbound train in the evening to let gamblers reach the slots without having to get on Interstate 95.

The key to the plan could be whether Penn National, the casino's owner, can put together a shuttle bus service between Hollywood and the Perryville MARC station. For the state, it could be seen as an investment. It would have to subsidize the expanded MARC service but could win back much of that money in the taxes on whatever increased gambling results.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: MARC train
        

MARC and Amtrak trains have resumed operations through the Halethorpe area after being held up when an Acela train struck a pedestrian on the tracks near there late this morning.

Danelle Hunter, an Amtrak spokeswoman, said the person -- whom she described as a "trespasser" -- was hit about 11:27 a.m.

Baltimore County Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost said call came in at 11:41 a.m. and the victim was taken by ground to Shock-Trauma. No word on age or gender. Hunter said that to the best of her knowledge the victim was still alive. She said there was no indication yet whether the strike was an accident or a suicide attempt.

Hunter said the Washington-to-New York Acela train, with 121 passengers aboard, was being held at the scene as of about 12:45 p.m. But she said the tracks have been reopened to other traffic.

Maryland Transit  Administration spokesman Terry Owens said two MARC Penn Line trains were delayed by the incident, but he said MARC traffic resumed service through the area at restricted speeds shortly after noon.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

Lateness was the No. 1 concern of riders on the Maryland Transit Administration's local bus system and Metro subway -- whether they were satisfied with the service or not --  according to a survey conducted by the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance.

The group's interim  report on the first three months of its "Rate Your Ride" survey found that Metro customers are significantly more pleased with their service than bus riders. On a scale in which a 1 indicated excellence and a 4 "major problems," riders rated the Metro 2.0 and the bus service 2.8.

The alliance received more than 4,000 responses to its survey via its web page and text messages. While  it sought responses from riders of all the MTA's  services, the group said it did not have enough responses from riders of MARC commuter trains, the light rail system and Mobility cabs and vans to include them in their results in the interim report.

Continue reading "Bus, Metro riders' top gripe is on-time performance" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

The Maryland Transit Administration has suspended local bus service and expects it to resume at 5 a.m. Thursday. It has canceled all commuter bus services provided by contractors Thursday.

The agency said service on the light rail line is running 30 minutes late and is not stopping at the Woodberry station. It said the Metro has been running on schedule.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Chikwe Njoku wrote in with an inquiry about the Maryland Transit Administration's Transit Link Cards. Thanks to Terry Owens, spokesmam for the MTA, for providing a timely answer.

I have a MARC  TLC Monthly that I use to travel to/from DC. It is very useful since you can also use it on Metro Bus or Metro Rail once you get to DC. Like the Metro Fare Cards they often fail.. and then become a "flash card" that you show upon entering/exiting the station.
 
I have also used the fare card to ride both the Light Rail and MTA Bus at certain times between Camden and Penn Stations as needed. I have noticed that both the fare inspectors and drivers are becoming increasingly perplexed by the MARC TLC Monthly.  Many stare at it in amazement and one driver told me its not valid on the MTA Bus. I tried to explain to her what I thought the policy was and she said " There isn't anything about MTA Buses/Light Rail on here...." I was stunned... after I examined the card.. I realized she was correct unless the policy has changed?
 

Continue reading "MTA: Cards are good (even if drivers are clueless)" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore Metro, City bus service, Light rail, MARC train, MTA
        

This just in from the MTA's David Clark:

The Camden Line has reopened between Washington and Baltimore.  Train 853 is departing Dorsey operating approximately 45 minutes late.  Northbound Camden Line trains will operate through to Camden Station.  Expect 5-10 minute delays due to single tracking between Savage and Dorsey.  I have no update on what the incident involved, but the scene has been cleared for MARC traffic in both directions.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Partial northbound service has resumed on the Camden Line despite a possible hazardous-material incident aboard a CSX train near Jessup.

MTA spokesman David Clark said northbound Camden trains will run as far as Savage. He said passengers bound for Dorsey and St. Denis will be met there by buses that will take them to their stops. Clark said passengers going to Baltimore's Camden Station are being asked to take the Penn Line and to catch the light rail back to Camden Yards.

 Southbound service is not running. There's no word yet on when full service will be restored.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

The Brunswick Lines has been reopened after power lines that had fallen on the nearby Metro Red Line tracks west of Rockville were repaired. But service on the Camden Line has been halted because of a hazardous materials incident aboard s CSX train near Jessup.

MTA spokesman David Clark said Brunswick Lines trains No. 873 and 891 are expected to depart Union Station at or close to their scheduled times. He said Metro Red Line service has also resumed.

On the Camden Line, CSX halted a train after workers on an Anacostia River bridge reported respiratory illness after a CSX train passed. The train was stopped near Jessup, where there is little population near the tracks, so authorities could investigate.

The CSX train was 98 cars long, of which 14 carried hazardous chemicals. The Camden Line shares the tracks on that line with CSX freight traffic, as the Brunswick Line does in Rockville.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

The Maryland Transit Administration has suspended operations on the MARC Brunswick Line this afternoon because of downed power lines near its tracks west of Rockville.

MTA spokesman Terry Owens said MARC service to Western Maryland was interrupted by the same power line problem that has disrupted service on the Washington Metro Red Line today. He said the power lines  had fallen on the Metro tracks close to where they parallel the CSX tracks the MTA uses for the Brunswick Line service.

Owens said Brunswick Line riders were being urged to take the Red Line to either the Silver Spring or Twinbrook stations and to catch buses provided by the MTA to reach MARC stations on the line.

Neither the Penn Line nor the Camden Line, which travel the corridor between Baltimore and Washington, were affected, Owens said.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

The Maryland Transit Administration will outline a series of schedule changes on the Penn Line Jan. 20 before the MARC Riders Advisory Council as part of a plan to run more trains but with fewer cars.

Henry Kay,  the MTA's deputy administrator for planning, said the agency believes that running lighter trains could relieve some of the burden on its locomotives, which are prone to breakdowns when carrying heavy loads in hot weather. He said MARC is now working with Amtrak -- which owns and operates the Penn Line -- to determine how to make the changes work with Amtrak's  own schedule.

"They agree in principle," Kay said.

Continue reading "MARC plans process for schedule changes" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

MARC riders are reporting it was a rough morning on both the Penn and Camden lines, with breakdowns, delays, slow trains and missed communication -- par for the course.

But  here's some man-bites-dog good news. Here we have a Maryland agency saying it intends to keep doing  its job even in the snow. Amazing. Here's the announcement from the MARC web site:

MARC Train will operate full service on Friday, January 7, 2011.  Given the forecast for light snow showers, please keep the following safety tips in mind to ensure that you get to work safely. 1) Wear sturdy footwear--we strongly discourage heels, men's dress shoes, and other footwear with limited tread and stability. 2) Roads, especially local and lightly-traveled roads will be very slick. Please drive carefully. 3) Arrive at least 15 minutes before train departure to allow extra time to park your car, WALK to the station or platform, and board your train. 4) NEVER run or walk fast on icy and snow covered platforms.  Thank you for riding the MARC Train Service.

But there's also some ugly to go along with it:

Continue reading "MARC: The good, the bad and the ugly" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

Riders reported engine trouble on Train 538 was delaying service on the Penn Line this evening. You can learn a lot more about what's going on -- and more quickly -- by following #marcfail on Twitter than you'll learn from the MTA.

And why is it that the MTA can't get the times right on the notices posted to its web site? The notice marked as being posted at 7:14 p.m. was up there by 7:04 p.m. It would be nice to think a transit agency that lives and dies by schedules knew what time it was.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

Baltimore County slipped from fourth to a tie for fifth place in Maryland in the percentage of workers who use public transit to get to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The bureau's 2005-2009 American Community Survey shows that fast-growing Charles County jumped past Baltimore County to come in No. 4 among Maryland jurisdictions in transit use. Transit use there more than doubled from 2.4 percent in the 2000 Census to 6.2 percent in the more recent survey -- likely  reflecting a sharp increase in the number of commuter buses serving the Southern Maryland County.

Baltimore County, meanwhile, slipped from 4 percent transit use in the 2000 Census to 3.9 percent in the survey. That put it in a tie with Howard County, where transit use grew from 2.5 percent in 2000. Baltimore County, parts of which are served by the Maryland Transit Administration, is the largest jurisdiction in the state without a locally operated bus system.

The same survey showed that Maryland ranks fifth among the states -- or sixth if the District of Columbia is included -- in transit use at 8.7 percent of the population. In 2000, the state's percentage stood at 7.2 percent.

Continue reading "Census shows transit lags in Baltimore County" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore Metro, Light rail, Local bus lines, MARC train, MTA, MTA bus system
        

MARC rider Eric Leubhusen reports that stranded Penn Line Train 428 is moving again:.

We just started again... they sent a tech, and he fixed it... or so we hope. My issue is the email saying a rescue train had been sent. Uh, no. The conductor has kept us informed with better info. I'll pass along any other developments. We are running about half speed, so I'm holding my breath.

MTA provided this update at what it calls 5:41 p.m., though that's about 100 minutes in the future as I type:

Penn Line Update #4--All trains are on the move north. Train 428 is 45 minutes late approaching BWI Marshall Airport.  Train 530 is 60 minutes late approaching New Carrollton.  Train 432 is 40 minutes late also approaching New Carrollton.  Train 450 is at New Carrollton and is on time.  All subsequent trains should be on time.

 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Just in from the MTA regarding the MARC Penn Line:

Penn Line--Train 428 (4:15pm departure to Penn Station) is disabled north of Union Station.  Trains 530 (4:24pm to Perryville) and 432 (4:40pm to Penn Station) are being delayed as well.  A rescue train is being sent north to transfer train 428's passengers.  Updates will follow.

Update at 5:11 p.m.:

Train 428 (4:15pm departure to Penn Station) is still disabled north of Union Station.  All northbound Penn Line trains are still in Washington and will experience significant delays.  Washington Metro will honor MARC tickets.  MARC has been told that Amtrak is attempting to send a rescue train north to transfer train 428's passengers.  More updates will follow.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

A reader who also rides the MARC train pointed out what could be a serious problem with the Maryland Transit Administration's attempts to get input from passengers about the commuter train service: Members of the advisory council that represents the interests of riders haven't been showing up for meetings.

The reader reported:

Upon examination of their meeting notes (found at http://ur.ly/zI0S), however, it looks like they haven't had a quorum at a meeting since April.  I wonder about the purpose and usefulness of the council is if they can't manage to get their members to go to any meetings.  MARC seems to be a surprisingly unreliable method of transportation (after riding it for the past year, I've been on 5 broken trains and had too many delays over an hour to count).  With no effective group looking out for riders' interests, my faith is all but dissolved that service quality will ever improve.

 

Continue reading "MARC advisory council has attendance problem" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Arbutus MARC rider Diane Schmutzler contends that the report on the federally sponsored investigation of the 'hell train' incident aboard a Penn Line train last June was incorrect in a key finding. In fact, she may have a good point. The report doesn't account for an unknown number of passengers -- but cetrainly greater than zero -- who left Train 538 but didn't board a rescue train.

Here's her account:

I was on the "hell train", along with my 2 year old child.  We were on the second  "rescue" train, the broken down 538 (and we sat in the car with the windows pushed out): I refused to board the first rescue because of the absolutely unsafe overcrowded conditions.

Continue reading "Rider challenges 'hell train' report" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

The management of the Maryland Transit Administration's MARC service and Amtrak both bear responsibility for serious communications and operational lapses that left up to 1,200 commuters sweltering for about two hours near New Carrollton during a June locomotive breakdown on what became known as the "hell train," according to an investigation report released today.

The report,  based on a debriefing held by the Federal Railroad Administration, concluded  the June  21 incident  aboard MARC Penn  Line Train 538 reflected "a series of organizational failures at multiple levels." It also exposed a longstanding problem with  maintaining power to long,  heavy trains in hot weather -- prompting MARC and Amtrak to consider running shorter trains at more frequent intervals.

In a memo to Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley,  MTA Administrator Ralign T. Wells identified  what he called "critical factors" in an incident that led to the hospitalization of several MARC passengers and unflattering national publicity about MARC and Amtrak. The stranding of what  Gov. Martin O'Malley called the "hell train" became an issue in this year's gubernatorial  election and  a focal point for dissatisfaction with unreliable MARC service and spotty communication with passengers.

Continue reading "MARC 'hell train' report faults MTA, Amtrak" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: MARC train
        

A tax break for MARC and other  transit riders that had been imperiled in earlier versions of the tax bill making its way through appears to have a good chance of staying alive -- at least for another year.

Paul Dean, director of government relations for the American Public Transit Association, said the version of the tax bill the Senate voted on today includes a continuation of the benefit at its current level. Without the provision, the benefit would be cut roughly in half as of Jan. 1.

The benefit allows transit riders to pay up to $230 in transit fares each month with pre-taxed dollars. That amount was raised from $120 in President Obama's 2009 stimulus bill, but that provision had been on the chopping block until House and Senate negotiators agreed to write a one-year extension in the bill continuing the tax cuts implementred under President George W. Bush, Dean said.

Continue reading "Tax break for transit commuters extended in bill" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

MARC riders and users of other transit services face a potentially significant increase in their commuting costs if a federal tax benefit program decreases --- as it now appears it will -- as of Jan. 1, an advocate for the commuter railroad's customers is warning.

Rafi Guroian, chairman of the MARC Tiders Advisory Council, said some commuters could see their costs rise by as much as $1,300 a year if Congress allows the benefits of a program known as SmartBenefits to be cut in half as it considers a bill to expend the tax cuts passed under President  George W. Bush. What is now a subsidy of $230  a month could be cut to $120 a month, Guroian said.

Guroian said that about half of MARC tickets might be purchased with the help of SmartBenefits. He said transit advocates in the Washington and New York areas are joining with the MARC council to try to rally congressional support for the benefit.

We hope to follow up on this issue in greater detail next week. MARC riders and others who use the SmartBenefits program are encouraged to contact michael.dresser@baltsun.com this weekend to describe how they would be affected by expiration of  the program.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

Amtrak has fully restored service on its Northeast Corridor after an electrical problem this morning interrupted service between Philadelphia and Baltimore.

In a 10:30 a.m. announcement, the railroad said repairs to the overhead wire system near Wilmington  had been completed, allowing full service to resume. Amtrak said the service interruption ocurred  at 7 a.m. when a power problem involving the damaged overhead wires forced a temporary suspension of service between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Terry Owens, an MTA spokesman, said  there were there were no problems with MARC Penn Line trains, but he said there were delays on two Amtrak morning trains that stop along the Penn Line and honor MARC tickets.

Amtrak said riders can expect residual congestion-related delays of 15-20 minutes through the affected area.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

The on-time performance of the MARC Penn and Camden lines reached an abysmal 85 percent in November as three trains barely cracked 50 percent for the month. 

Those are not figures calculated to make riders happy.

"We consider 85 percent to be below the threshold of what we consider acceptable, and that's 90 percent on average," said Rafi Guroian, chairman of the MARC Riders Advisory Council.

On the Camden Line, Train 850 (the 5;16 p.m. out of Washington) was at the bottom with 53 percent on-time performance for the month, while only 55  percent  of  the runs of Trains 846 and 852 (4:13 p.m. and 5:51  p.m. from Washngton) were on time.

No trains on the Penn Line  scored in the 50s. But three fell below 70 percent: the 437 (the 4:50 p.m.  from Penn Station) at 60 percent, the 530 (4:24 from Washington) at 65 percent and the 435 (3:45 from Penn) at 68 percent.

Continue reading "Some MARC trains barely crack 50% on-time mark" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

The northbound platform at the BWI MARC/Amtrak railroad station, which has been partially closed for construction in recent months, will fully reopen in time for the busiest travel day of the year, the Maryland Transit Administrattion says.

The MTA said the barriers will be removed  and the platform opened to passengers by 5 a.m. Wednesday. The platform renovation is part  of a larger project to replace the aging station, which opened 30 years ago and has seen a steady growth in ridership.

According to the MTA, the renovation project has lengthened the sttation's northbound  and southbound platforms from 350 feet to 1,050 feet -- allowing all of the ccars on nine car trains to open their doors for passengers.

The station serves both Amtrak trains and the MARC system's Penn Line.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

MTA spokesman Terry Owens says the reason three trains have been canceled and others subjected to delays of up to 80 minutes on the Penn Line is that an Amtrak Acela train stalled out about 4 minutes south of Baltimore.

Something like that isn't the fault of MTA or MARC. It's  just a fact of life on the Amtrak-owned Penn Line. What is a lapse on the  MTA's  part is  that the Acela  stalled out  at 12:25  p.m., according to Owens, and as of 3:10 p.m.  the main MTA web site was reporting service on schedule. (See below.)

Meanwhile MARC Tracker was giving more  accurate information. Too bad there's such an inconvenient, well-hidden, multi-step link between the two web sites.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Tim Manicom of Baltimore noticed that the information he's getting from one MTA web site is entirely different from the information on another. People going to one web site are told MARC is on time; those who visit the other learn that trains on the Penn Line are running as much as 80 minutes late.

The one reporting the delays is MARC Tracker. The one saying evrything is hunky-dory is the MTA's main web site.

"Obviously one hand isn’t communicating with the other," Maricom notes. (His statement checks out for accuracy now, but by the time you read this, the information may have changed.)

This is a serious screw-up. There are many things that occur on the MARC lines that are beyond the MTA's  control. CSX and Amtrak own the tracks, operate the trains and  do the dispatching. But communicating accurately with riders  is the  MTA's  responsibility. The MTA's spokesmen weren't available when I called a few minutes ago.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Maryland has pulled the plug on the bidding for a contract to take over the operations of the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines from CSX -- saying its bid solicitation had failed to generate  sufficient competition for  the work.

"We were not happy with the competition or lack of competition,"  said state Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley.

Swaim-Staley said the Maryland Transit Administration would revise its request for proposals in an effort to make it more attractive for bidders.  She said it would take  "a couple of months" to put the contract back on the market.

The MARC Camden and  Brunswick lines are now owned and operated by CSX, which has expressed an intent to get out of the passenger operations  side of  the business. The Camden Line runs  between Baltimore and Washington, while the  Brunswick Line extends from  Washington to Martinsburg, W.Va.

 A third MARC route, the Perryville-to-Washington Penn Line, is operated by Amtrak and was not involved in the bid solicitation.

Continue reading "Bidding for MARC train contract canceled" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Yesterday we recounted the  story of Bernard and Maria Smith and the hoops they had to jump through at the Maryland Transit Administration to resolve a problem of a defective CharmCard.

Today we can report that the problem has been resolved, though it took the Smiths three trips downtown to accomplish that. Here's the word from MTA spokesman Terry Owens:

Thank you for the opportunity to investigate and respond to a complaint about an inoperative CharmCard and MTA’s response.  Since hearing from you we did confirm that Mrs. Smith’s CharmCard is defective, and today she picked up a new card with its full value along with an apology for her wasted time.  Interestingly, there are currently 4,000 cards in operation and this is the very first report we have received about a defective card.

Continue reading "Mrs. Smith gets her CharmCard fixed" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

The American Publiic Transit Association estimates that a typical commuter to downtown Baltimore could save $9,549 a year by taking bus or rail to work and jettisoning a car.

Now APTA is a trade group and lobbying arm of the nation's transit agencies, so the fact the organization has come up with a large number for Baltimore and other cities is hardly a surprise. (New York tops that list at $13,962 a year.) But for certain commuters who would like to cut household expenses, the Baltimore number might be worth considering. That's $796 a month, if APTA's calaculations are valid.

Here's APTA's explanation of its methodology:

Continue reading "Transit savings in Baltimore put at $9,549 a year" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

An Amtrak spokesman said train delays are expected to persist into the evening peak travel period as a result of this morning's low-speed collision of two trains and resulting derailment at Union Station in Washington.

Spokesman Steve Kulm said Amtrak long-distance trains could be delayed 1-2 hours, while MARC and VRE commuter trains could leave up to 30 minutes late. He said Acela trains, as well as Northeast Regionals that are stopping at Washington, will not be affected.

Kulm also updated the injury count from five to seven and said six of those hurt were Amtrak employees. All six were taken to local hospitals, he said, while an injured passenger who had been aboard a private car declined hospital treatment.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

This morning's collision and derailment of two trains in the Union Station railyard in Washington is apparently causing continuing headaches for MARC riders this afternoon.

A little  before 4 p.m., the Maryland Transit Administration posted this statement on its MARC website:

Due to congestion in the Union Station area due to a derailment in the storage yard earlier today, all trains may be delayed 10-20 minutes departing Union Station.  It is possible that trains will leave on time; do not assume that trains will be late.  Please remain inside Union Station in the passenger waiting area until your train is announced and posted for boarding, this will allow Amtrak and MARC staff to keep you notified on the public address system.   Washington Metrorail will honor MARC tickets today.  We thank you in advance for your patience this afternoon.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

This week's election provided mixed news for supporters of expansion of Maryland's transit system -- positive at the local level but foreboding on the national scene.

The big local story was Gov. Martin O'Malley defeat of former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich  Jr. in a contest that pitted two very different views of public transit.  Ehrlich prmoised to scuttle Baltimore's Red Line and the Washington suburban Purple Line as light rail projects if elected. His stance in favor of a bus alternative was a turn-off to influential players in Montgomery and Prince Georges' counties -- as reflected in the Greater Washington Board of Trade's endorsement of O'Malley. His numbers in the Washington suburbs would have been anemic anyway, but his stance on the Purple Line deepened his problems. 

Ehrlich's Red Line position might have won him a few stray votes in Canton, but there are no signs it helped him much in the Baltimore area.

Continue reading "Election provides mixed news for transit projects" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Service on the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines has been restored, but remain suspended on the busy Penn Line, after a low-speed collision this morning led to a derailment in Union Station in Washington.

Maryland Transit Administration spokesman David Clark said a train pulling private cars collided with a MARC train that had no passengers aboard a little before 9:20 a.m. Some cars derailed and some  crew members suffered minor injuries, he said. Clark said  the collision occurred after the majority of MARC's morning commuters had already arrived in Washington.

 Clark said Amtrak briefly suspended service on all lines but quickly reopened the station to Brunswick and Camden line trains, which are operated by CSX.

The TBD blog quoted an Amtrak spokesman as saying five of its employees were taken to local hospitals.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

This just in from the MTA:

Due to a derailment in Washington Union Station, all train service is suspended until further notice to accommodate emergency responce personnel and vechiles. Washington Metro will honor MARC tickets.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

It looks like another bad night on MARC, which seems to be having a rough week aftter a period of relative calm. Here's what the MTA to say:

Camden Line--Train 852 (5:51pm departure from Washington) is still in Union Station with a mechanical problem.  Updates to follow.

 Brunswick Line passengers--Delays are easing on the Brunswick Line--trains 879, 881, 895, and 883 may experience delays of up to 15 minutes.  Currently, trains 879 and 881 are on-time.  Trains 875, 877, and 893 are west of Rockville and are operating 10-35 minutes late.

Penn Line--Train 439 (5:25 departure from Penn Station to Washington) is operating ten minutes late at Odenton due to a mechanical problem in Baltimore.  When this train arrives in Washington, it will likely need to replace its locomotive.  This will result in a delayed departure for train 440 (6:40pm departure from Washington to Baltimore).  Updates will follow.  Passengers at Union Station are asked to remain inside the station until train 440 is announced for boarding. 

 

Continue reading "More MARC woes force delays, cancellations" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

At least four MARC trains on the Brunswick Line were delayed this evening after a body was found near the CSX tracks in Rockville.

Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens said the MTA was notified about 5:45  p.m. that a body had been found near Nicholson Lane and Randolph Road in Rockville. He said three trains  were stopped at Washington's Union Station  and another halted at Garrett Park.

Commuters on the train at Garrett Park were able to  walk to a Montgomery County Ride-On bus stop and catch rides from there, Owens said. He said the Montgomery  County and  CSX police are investigating the incident, which he said did not appear to be a train strike.

Today's discoveryy marked the third time this month a person has been found dead on or near  Maryland railroad tracks used by MARC. On Oct. 3, a Pennsylvania man committed  suicide on the Amtrak tracks near Middle River. On Oct. 13, another man died in a reported suicide on the CSX tracks in Rockvillle.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Amtrak confirms that there were delays on its tracks between Baltimore and Washington this morning because of signal problems but says the cause has not yet been determined.

The Inside Charm City blog had reported that sabotage might have been the cause.

Amtrak spokeswoman Barbara Petito did not rule out sabotage as the reason a  wire came down in the Seabrook-New Carrollton area at 8:42 a.m. Neither did she confirm the report. She said Amtrak Police were still investigating why the wire came down and set off a signal warning that the track ahead was occupied.

Petito said two Amtrak trains were delayed -- one by five minutes, another by 13. She said she had no information about MARC delays. She noted that that of copper wire has been a problem for Amtrak of late.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

Jeff Quinton at the Inside Charm City blog is reporting that some delays on the MARC Penn Line this morning might have been the result of sabotage of some Amtrak signals.

Quinton reports  that tthe MTA sent out a message on Twitter confirming that there had been "malicious destruction" of Amtrak signals.

Meanwhile, the MTA is reporting that CSX is having signal problems at Greenbelt on the Camden Line, causing delays of 20-35 minutes. No word on a cause, but the Camden Line usually doesn't require a saboteur to make it late.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

JIn a recent email, Jerry McCann of Lutherville raised some interesting points about how the MTA's new CharmCard works  on the light rail. We posted it on this blog.

Now  MTA spokesman David Clark has replied on behalf of the agency. Here's what he had to say:

Machines at the Lexington Market Northbound Light Rail Station are temporarily unable to accept CharmCards due to underground utility problems.  Additional notices placed on the TVM’s inform patrons that the machines currently accept “Cash Only” and CharmCard access will be available soon at that location. 

Continue reading "MTA: CharmCard a work in progress" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

This just in from the MTA website:

Based on card sales and fare purchases, MTA’s new CharmCard has been positively
received by full-fare customers.  The reduced-fare CharmCard for seniors is in the final stages of development, and is scheduled to be available in early 2011. 
When the Senior CharmCard is available the MTA will provide purchase information
at the MTA Reduced Fare Certification Office, at the Transit Store, on transit vehicles, and through direct mail.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Baltimore Metro, City bus service, Light rail, Local bus lines, MARC train, MTA bus system, WMATA/D.C. Metro
        

This from the MTA  MARC website:

Attention BWI Commuters:   A storm knocked out the communication on all the cash payment machines at the BWI Parking garage. Signs have been placed on the machines  informing customers that they can pay at the machines with credit cards or at the exit with cash. The machines are expected to be out for about a month.

A month? That must have been one heck of a storm.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

Service on the MARC Brunswick Line has been shut down after a pedestrian was killed by a train on the CSX tracks this afternoon near Rockvillle, according to the Maryland Transit Administration.

A Montgomery County police spokeswoman, Blanca Kling, said an adult male was hit by a train at the Randolph Road crossing at 2:07 p.m. She said witnesses reported that the man jumped in front of a CSX  freight train. An investigation is continuing. Police have not yet released the man's identity.

MTA spokesman David Clark said MARC had established a bus bridge to meet passengers at the Rockville Metro station and take them to points farther west  on the line -- one branch of which runs to Frederick and the other to Martinsburg, W.Va. He said Metro will honor  MARC tickets.

Clark said the tracks, which are also used by Amtrak trains between Washington and the Midwest, are expected to reopen about 6 p.m.

The apparent suicide would be the second on Maryland tracks so far this month. On Oct. 4, 46-year-old Mark Young, 46, of York, Pa., killed  himself by getting in front of a train on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor tracks in Middle River.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads, MARC train
        

The State Highway Administration has announced it will launch a free. round-the-clock "511" telephone service to provide real-time traffic information to travelers in the state.

The new system, provided by Televent of Rockville, under a five-year contract with the state worth $4.7 million, will start up in fall 2011, according to Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The SHA wil manage the statewide service, under which the contractor will collect traffic information from a variety of sources and provide it to travelers who place calls to 511. The informatiion will also be  made available through social network operators and a website. The 511 system is later expected to add a personalized service that will alert subscribers to traffic conditions via text messaging.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Congratulations to the Maryland Transit Administration for adopting the practice of posting a daily summary of the performance of the MARC system on its website.

Since early September, the MTA has been posting a regular summary of the previous day’s MARC delays, allong with a scorecard tracking its on-time performannce on a month-to-date and year-to-date basis.

The totals for September as of Thursday show an admirable Penn Line performance for the month of 95 percent – much better than the year-to-date figure of 89 percent. The news from the Camden and Brunswick lines isn’t so rosy – with both scoring in the mid-80s for September.

Riders can find the data here  . Or go to the MTA website  and click on MARC TRAIN at the top. From the menu that pops up, choose MARC Train – Daily Service Digest.

This is the type of transparency that is long overdue at the MTA, which should consider providing this data for  more of its modes. (Local bus could be difficult, but the light rail and Metro should be doable.) Riders are invivited to monitor it for accuracy.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

The chief of the Maryland Transit Administration says the launch Tuesday of the system's new CharmCard electronic payment system is just the first step in an effort to streamline the use of transportation services in the Baltimore region.

MTA Administrator Ralign T. Wells said at a news conference at the Charles Center Metro Station that  “nothing is  off the table” in terms of future applications of the new “smart cards, which now can be used to pay fares on local buses, the Metro and the light rail system.

“We’re open to anything that will allow more accessibility to various transportation modes,” Wells said at the long-awaited CharmCard, which has been more  than a decade in development.

Continue reading "CharmCard "a first step," MTA chief says" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

MARC ridership on the Brunswick line is down more than 9 percent compared to last July, but the MTA attributes it to the summer vacation season. From the Associated Press:

The Maryland Transit Administration says ridership on MARC's Brunswick line was down 9.3 percent last month compared to a year earlier.

Ridership on all three MARC lines fell 1.1 percent from July 2009, with an average of 31,748 riders per day, and about 6.4 percent from June. But the Brunswick line, which runs from Washington to West Virginia, saw a 9.3 percent drop compared to a year earlier, with an average of 6,819 daily riders.

Maryland Transit Administration officials attribute the drop to summer vacation season.

The Camden line, which runs between Baltimore and Washington, saw a 3 percent drop, but the Penn line, which runs from Perryville to Washington, posted a 2.2 percent increase with an average of 21,047 daily riders.

Weren't people on vacation last July, too? What else could account for this drop? The Camden line also saw a drop, albeit a more modest 3 percent.

MARC riders: Has there been a bit more space in the cars during your commute?

Posted by Maryann James at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: MARC train, MTA
        

When the hot weather started taking a toll on MARC's electric locomotives early this summer, the commuter railroad began to experiment with a new configuration twinning two diesel engines on its heaviest Penn Line trains to maintain both pulling power and internal systems.

The Maryland Transit  Administration isn't exactly proclaiming the experiment a rousing success but spokesman Terrry Owens says it has  been working well so far.

"Clearly the locomotives have performed extremely well," he saiid. "We've not had the problems you would have with electrics being down because of the heat."

Continue reading "Double-diesel approach may be working for MARC" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

MARC riders on the Penn Line received a rude surprise this morning when the overhead electrical power system on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor failed, bringing commuter trains and interciity trains to a halt between New York and Washington as well as Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

AmTrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said power in the cartenary system went out about 7:45 a.m. and was restored about 9 a,m. She said that after  that it may have taken a while to get the trains running again. She said about 30 trains -- intercity and commuter -- were affected by the outage.

Penn Line rider Claudia Balohg managed to find some good news amid the adversity. According to Balog, Amtrak diid a much better job of handling this incident than it did during previous service interruptions.

I was on one of the delayed MARC trains impacted by this morning’s Amtrak catenary line failure.  I am happy to report that there were many improvements in the MARC response.  Passengers were provided with water on the trains, there were many announcements updating us on our status, and it appeared that the plan “B” – to dispatch a diesel engine to rescue our train – was smoothly implemented.  Granted, it was getting warm and uncomfortable on the trains, but with 70 temps outside, few were complaining, and conductors made many announcements addressed to any one who might be suffering from asthma or similar issues who might need assistance.  If MARC can continue/Amtrak can continue with responses like this to power and engine failures – including when the stakes are higher, say, a 90+ degree evening commute with more fatigued, crankier passengers – then I can say that finally, administrators have begun to listen to passengers and effectuate positive changes. 

 

Continue reading "MARC rider finds silver lining in outage" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

For once it's not MARC riders who are enduring a brutal day on commuter rail. Hundreds of thousands of New York commuters were left at stations after a fire in a switching tower shut down most of the trains on the Long Island  Railroad.

At last report, service was not expected to be restored in time  for rush hour. The LIRR, the nation's busiest commuter rail system, carries an average of 265,000 riders daily. Ten of the system's 11 lines were affected by the shutdown. The tower that was damaged by fire is in Jamaica, Queens, a major transfer point. There were no injuries.

Meanwhile, all three MARC lines were reported to be running on schedule.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Has a four-vehicle crash closed the Jones Falls Expressway? Did a light rail train jump the tracks? Are hundreds of passengers stranded on a MARC train?

You can find out fast by receiving text message alerts from The Baltimore Sun's Breaking News Desk. Just click here to sign up to receive traffic alerts and other news as it happens. These are not routine announcements or advisories about everyday congestion but the type of major developments that can help commuters get to home or work faster.

There is no charge for the service from The Sun, though standard test-message charges from cell phone providers may apply.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Jim Nelson of Towson has the following question for the city Department of Transportation. It's a good one, and Getting There hopes to get a reply from the city soon.

As a daily MARC train commuter to Washington, DC, I make my way to Penn Station on foot via W. Oliver Street, crossing over N. Charles Street to get to the station.  Many other rail riders do this as well.

The hazardous nature of crossing N. Charles, particularly in the afternoon, is the reason the reason for this message.  Typically, people exiting the station walking toward homes and parking garages to the west, literally have to sprint across the busy street, through gaps in fast-moving traffic.  Obviously, this is very dangerous; particularly, for seniors and children.

Has the City ever considered placing a pedestrian crosswalk and light at this location?  If not, why?  If so, why hasn't a pedestrian crossing been situated there?  Given that our Penn Station is one of the busiest passenger rail terminals in the country, with an annual total ridership of over 1 million, it would seem appropriate that those who forego the use of their cars subsequently be permitted to safely cross the street once they get off the train.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

It was no accident that Gov. Martin O’Malley wore a purple tie to his campaign event in Silver Spring this morning.

The governor met with about two dozen small business owners and other voters at the Tastee Diner in this Montgomery County community to discuss his approach to transit issues -- and to underscore his support for a light rail project known as the Purple Line and the opposition of former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to it.

While O’Malley launched no new verbal missiles at his prospective Republican opponent, he used the Purple Line issue to underscore a stark policy difference between the two.

Continue reading "O'Malley supports Purple Line, dodges on gas tax" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Maryland Transit Administration said it will modify its Penn Line schedule Aug. 9 as Amtrak's project to replace concrete railroad ties move to a new section. The new schedule has been posted at the MTA's web site, http://www.mta.maryland.gov/, and at MARC stations.

The MTA said Amtrak has completed work on a stretch of track between New Carrollton and north of Halethorpe and will move to a new section.

Continue reading "MARC Penn Line schedule to change" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

The MTA's explanation of what went wrong on the Brunswick Line is a typically garbled, but it does illustrate that just about anything can happen on MARC. CSX operates this line, and as far as I know MARC owns no bulldozers, so the MTA is likely innocent in this turn of events.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Consiidering the blazing heat that prevailed last week, MARC didn't do nearly as badly as might have been expected. Today brought a little relief from the heat, so naturally the system  is having all sorts of  problems. Here's the latest:

Last updated: July 26, 5:44 PM
 
Brunswick: Marc 891 now operating 42 minutes late due to switch problem east of Point of Rocks.

Camden: MARC 846 is operating approximately 50 minutes late in the Dorsey (area).

Camden: MARC 848 is operating approximately 25 minutes late in the Savage area.

Penn: MARC 534 (520p WAS Dp) is expected to operate 25-35 minutes late due to mechanical problem in Union Station causing a swap to new equipment.

Penn: MARC 437 operating approximately 15-20 minutes late in the New Carrollton area due to a stopped freight train.

 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

MARC is reporting "major disruptions," but few Baltimore-area riders should be affected because almost all the problems the MTA is reporting are on the Brunswick Line. The worst problem being reported on Baltimore-bound trains is a one-car deficit on one of the  trains going to Perryville on the Penn Line. The Brunswick Line problems are being attributed largely to unspecified "police activity."

Here's the latest:

 

MARC Commuters: Due to the Washington Union Station delays, the Washington Metro will be honoring MARC tickets to all MARC lines.

    * PENN LINE COMMUTERS:
          o MARC 534 (520pm WAS Dp) to Perryville will be operating one car short this evening.

    * BRUNSWK COMMUTERS:
          o ATTENTION:[UPDATE3] MARC 891 has been cancelled due to Police Activity in Washington. MARC 875 will be carrying MARC 891 passengers and will be operating approximately 25 minutes late.
          o ATTENTION:[UPDATE2] MARC 873 is operating 30-40 minutes late approaching Silver Spring Station. Expect significant overcrowding conditions.
          o ATTENTION:[UPDATE1] MARC 873 just departed Washington/Union Station and operating approximately 30-40 minutes late. update to follow.
          o ATTENTION: MARC 873 (335p WAS Dp) and 891 (350p WAS Dp) are holding in Union Station due to police activity. Updates to follow.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

Ada Orie of Towson recently contacted this after having difficulty getting her complaints dealt with. Our public airing of her problems helped bring out action from the MTA, including a  call from Administrator Ralign T. Wells, who apparently did a good enough job of responding to her concerns that she sent this email:

I was born, raised and have lived in Maryland all my life. I have been a MTA customer for about 15 years. I want to talk to you about MTA service and second chances. I have traveled on the MTA bus, light rail, MARC train and metro subway. I will say although the service has not been perfect in the last 15 years, I will say I always got to my destination safely and I am appreciative the fares have stayed the same for the last few years despite the economic downturn. As we are ten years into a new millennium, we have a responsibility to usher in positive change. Let us do it by opening up the lines of communication between the MTA and its customers.

Continue reading "Bus rider urges: Give MTA a chance" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Melissa Schober, a friend of Getting There who helped point out the lapses in the MTA's handing of MARC riders' complaints, write to say she's getting off the Penn Line train she's been riiding since 2007.

Got a new gig, closer to my home in Baltimore. I have a two-year-old and I just can't take any more delays and excuses and hand-waving. I have missed too many evenings with her. Last day on the Penn Line will be 7/29.

I'll have to drive -- buying a used Prius -- which really stinks. I am a HUGE believer in transit; I'm 31 and my husband is 33 and this will be our first car. What does it say about MARC service that it is driving me to, well, drive?

It says the MTA has a huge problem with riders who aren't captive customers because of their economic straits.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

Did the Maryland Transit Administration blow  off a letter passed on the the Governor's Office? Or did the governor's people fumble what should have been an east handoff? (UPDATE: Answer at end of posting)

Either way, MARC rider Scott Klinger of Baltimore says he has yet to receive a reply to his May 21 letter to Gov. Martin O'Malley except for a form letter saying the MTA would give him a full response. Since then, Klinger said, he's heard nothing about the complaints he lodged about shoddy MARC service that caused him to miss a social event in Baltimore.

Here's what Klingers has  to say now:

Prior to moving to Baltimore four years ago, I spent 25 years living in Boston and happily riding the MBTA. Over that time, I contacted the MBTA on many occassions to either compliment exceptional service, or to report problems that needed addressing. There was not a time when I did not receive a personalized tailored response directly to my letter or phone call. A few times I received phone calls within hours of sharing a concern, and a thoughtful reply never took more than a couple of weeks to arrive. My point is that models of terrific public transit customer service do exist, the question for the folks at MARC is are they willing to aspire to be the best, or to settle for aspirations of  comfortable mediocrity.

Continue reading "Another MARC complaint goes unanswered" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: MARC train
        

Just for a change of pace, Getting There presents an email from Joyce Tarrant of Woodlawn, who actually had something good to say about MARC service:

I just wanted to let you know of my experience on the MARC train recently. In light of all of their bad publicity, I have to give them a real "thumbs up" for their communication updates during a recent trip.

There was an announcement that the train had hit something and would be stopping. Of course, speculation among the riders ranged from a deer to a small child. The MARC crew de-boarded the train and walked around, inspected the exterior, and then got back on and announced exactly what they found: a garden hose that was the actual object hit.

Throughout the time they were stopped, the air conditioning remained on (thank goodness). When the conductor walked through, I immediately commended him on the timely update. The update quickly calmed the fears and rumors that were circulating throughout the train.

I know you receive many emails regarding the poor service, but I just wanted to weigh in with something positive. I commend you for your continued interest in the matter.

There are, in fact, such a thing as good experiences on MARC. Last Thursday I took three rides on the Penn Line, and all of them were on time and uneventful -- even the evening departure from Union Station. The worst I observed was two of the three parking payment machines at BWI were out of order.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Riders of the MARC train frequently express frustration that Maryland's commuter line doesn't perform as well as rail lines in Europe and other places. But breakdowns are a fact of life on any train system, as this report from supposedly hyper-efficient Germany shows.-- brought to us courtesy of Greater Greater Washington.

It seems the air conditioning on a paradoxically named ICE train between Berlin and Cologne failed during a heat wave in Germany, sending temperatures in the rail cars to about 122 degrees.  Apparently the reaction of the German crew showed they might as well have been trained by Amtrak. Nine people were hospitalized, compared with two on MARC's infamous June 21 "hell train."

This certainly neither excuses MARC or Amtrak but it points out the extreme heat can hurt performance  on any train system. The test is how rail officials react, and suspicions that MARC and its contractors have a monopoly on ineptness ought to be kaput.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: MARC train
        

Has the Charm City Circulator morphed into a MARC train on wheels. Does Baltimore really need a second MTA? Has the Purple Route developed a circulatory disease?

All these snarky thoughts and more occurred to me today as I waited more than 40 minutes in 90-degree heat on St. Paul Street outside Penn Station for a Charm City Circulator Purple Route  bus that never did arrive.

To be sure, I could have cut the ordeal short by acting on my suspicion that the Circulator was messed up by the Artscape festival taking shape around the train station. But to the extent possible, I tried to replicate the experience of a visitor who had knew nothing about Artscape.

Let's just say that visitor wouldn't want to return to Baltimore -- or at least use its free shuttle service -- again any time soon.

It was 10:34 when I arrived at the Purple Route Penn Station stop. There was conspicuous signage for the Purple Route, along with  an electronic sign giving the time and the wait expected  for the next bus. It was noticeable that there was no signage up yet informing riders that the Penn Station stop would be closed during Artscape, but traffic along St. Paul was still running and the electronic sign kept promising an arriving bus. With advertised headways of 10 minutes, there was every reason to expect a bus by 10:44.

At 10:47 a.m. the electronic sign said a bus would come in 1 minute. A minute later, no bus. Then the sign rolled over to say the next bus would arrive in 18 minutes, leaving me and several other waiting riders puzzled. 

Continue reading "Charm City Circulator: MARC on rubber wheels?" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: City bus service, MARC train, MTA bus system
        

It looks like there are switch problems on the Camden Line tonight. That's one thing MARC has no control over because the switches are owned and operated by CSX.

Most of these issues concern the Brunswick Line, but rider Jeff Quinton reports a delay on the Penn Line Train No. 440 as well:

# MARC Train 852 (5:51p WAS Dp) enroute to Baltimore/Camden is operating approximately 15 minutes late due to switch problems.
# MARC Train 893 (5:15p WAS Dp) enroute to Frederick is operating approximately 20 minutes late. Update to follow
# MARC Train 877 (4:55p WAS Dp) to Martinsburg is operating 10-15 minutes late approching Silver Spring station.
# MARC Train 875 (4:25p WAS Dp) to Brunswick is operating 20 minutes late.
#
MARC Train 879 to Martinsburg (5:40 pm Dp) will operate one car short this evening.
# UPDATE: MARC Train 853 is operating approximately 45 minute late approaching Dorsey station due to switch problems. 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

A new day brings a new influx of complaints about the MARC system some well-justified, others more questionable. Here's one from Jim Moloney of Baltimore that represents a little bit of both:

I have been reading the Sun’s continued coverage of the latest problems concerning MARC and wanted to let you know they are still continuing.

Last night we attempted to take the 5:15 train from Washington to Baltimore. At 5:10 we were told that the engine was disabled and were told to “run” to catch the 5:20 train leaving from another track. Those of us who could “run” did.

When we got to the track where the 5:20 was leaving from, we were met by a barricade, a police officer and an angry MARC employee yelling that the 5:20 was “closed” to further passengers. Passengers understandably became irate. We were threatened with arrest if we “hindered” the operation of MARC. We were told to head to the 5:30 which was leaving from another track.

When we got to the 5:30 train we asked a conductor if it was headed to Baltimore. He smirked and said “who wants to know”. I got disgusted and left (a fellow passenger advised me it was going to Baltimore).

Continue reading "MARC issues persist, readers report" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: MARC train
        

One of the most persistent irritants in the relationship between the MTA and its riders is its insistence on classifying even very inconvenient disruptions of its service as "minor" on its web site. But the agency seems to be in love with the practice of downplaying its customers' inconvenience.

Let's at least agree to this protocol for the MARC system: If a train has to be canceled, that automatically lifts the disruptions of of the "minor" category. The MTA doesn't even have to use the word "major" -- which it doesn't like to do short of  an apocalyptic breakdown. Just call them disruptions.

Or are there any MARC riders out there who think it's a minor matter when their train is canceled and they have to squeeze onto the next one out of the station?

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

Here's the litany of MARC train problems tonight, provide by the MTA at 5:33 p.m. The MTA is still calling these "minor disruptions," though that description is looking a bit questionable.I keep telling the MTA to banish the word "minor" from their web site, but it seems to be their favorite  word.

Penn Line: UPDATE: MARC Train 450 (515p WAS Dp) to Baltimore/Penn is cancelled. Next available MARC Train will be Train 534 departing 520p WAS.

(Rider Jeff Quinton reports that 534 is running a car short, leading to crowded conditions.)

MARC 530 is operating approximately 15 minutes late in the baltimore area.

Camden:

MARC 846 (413p WAS Dp) is operating approximately 25 minutes late due to freight train traffic.

 

Continue reading "MARC off to rocky start tonight" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

e Maryland Transit Administration is offering passengers on its infamous “hell train” -- the Penn Line No. 538 from June 21 -- five free day passes as compensation for their two-hour ordeal aboard a stranded train in sweltering heat without air-conditioning.

The problem for many riders will be that they travel on monthly passes and may not be able to take full advantage of the offer. The MTA said it is offering the VIP day passes – worth the equivalent of $70 in rides from Penn Station to Union Station – as an “expression of our appreciation for your continued patronage following delays to your train on June 21.”

The offer is restricted to passengers on the affected train. Since that incident, which sent two riders to the hospital, officials from Gov. Martin O’Malley on down have tried to make amends with a series of apologies and listening tours. Amtrak, which operated the train and took responsibility for the failure to attend to passengers’ comfort more quickly, instituted several procedural changes as a result.

Continue reading "MTA offers free passes to 'hell train' riders" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

A few weeks ago this blog reported how MARC rider Melissa Schober wrote to Maryland Transit Administration chief Ralign T. Wells (above) about her experiences on one terrible night on the Penn Line, only to receive in return a form letter addressing the horrors of another night on the MARC. Meanwhile,  the reply sent under Wells' name blew off the pertinent questions she had about the MTA's contract with Amtrak to operate the Penn Line.

After the mistake was  called to Wells' attention, he  called Schober to apologize and later followed up with a written reply. To me, it looks like a good recovery and a candid assessment of the pros and cons of seeking another operator. What do MARC riders think?

Dear Ms. Schober:
 
Again, please accept my sincere apologies for my earlier reply to you which was entirely inappropriate and which did not respond in any way to the complaints you set forth in your June 25, 2010 email to me.  You had taken the time to contact me with your concerns and your message deserved my full attention and consideration.  I take full responsibility for this error. 
 

Continue reading "MTA chief answers MARC rider's questions" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

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.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

With high temperatures down to a relatively comfortable 91 degrees, the MARC train is operating almost smoothly this afternoon. Thhis is the worst the MTA had to report at 5 p.m., and there hasn't been anything since:

  *  Attention Penn Line Commuters:
          o MARC Train 535 from Perryville (250 pm Departure) to Union Station is operating 10 minutes late due to Amtrak traffic.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Here's the report from the MTA as of 6:04 p.m. Despite the heat, this doesn't look a whole lot worse than an average night. But there's still plenty of time to go.

  * Attention Penn Line Commuters:
          o MARC Train 450 enroute to Penn station is operating 10-15 minutes late.
    * Attention Camden Line Commuters:
          o MARC Train 850 to Baltimore/ Camden is operating 10 minutes late due to congestion. Updates to follow

Continue reading "MARC report: Some delays, could be much worse" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

For a third day running, the MARC system is trying to cope with temperatures of more than 90 degrees -- though at least it doesn't seem to be crashing the 100-degree mark today. There are a few early problems but nothing too dramatic. We'll be keeping an eye on conditions, however, because MARC is always at risk in extreme heat.

Here's the latest from MTA:

# Brunswick Line Commuters:  Marc Train 873 approaching Rockville is operating 15 minutes late due to heat orders.

# Attention Penn Line Commuters:  MARC Train 534 to Perryville (520 pm Departure) will be operating one car short this evening.
# Attention Brunswick Line Riders:   CSX has issued heat orders for this afternoon starting at 1:00pm, until 7:00pm. Trains will operate 20 miles per hour under the normal maximum authorized speed but not less than 40 miles per hour. Delays can range from 10-15 minutes.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

Spurred by recent service disruptions on MARC trains, the Maryland Transit Administration has extended the hours of its customer call center to roughly match the hours commuter rail service operates.

Starting immediately, the call center will remain open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday "until further notice." The center had previously closed  at 7 p.m. --- long before the last MARC trains of the day left their stations.

MTA Administrator Ralign Wells said one of the messages hhe had received in talking with customers is  that they want to be able to reach a knowledgeable  agency representative during service hours. The MTA said it has also designated some of its  agents to  deal specifically with MARC-related issues and to stay in touch with the commuter line's operations staff. The number for MARC-related callls is 1-800-325-7245.

The MTA said it has also extended call center hours for its other rail and bus systems to  the same period as for MARC. That number is 410-539-5000.

Continue reading "MTA extends call center hours" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The problems continue on the MARC Penn Line, but it's good to see Amtrak stepping in to take some canceled passengers. Here's the latest:

 

 Penn Line Commuters: MARC Train 442 from Washington/ Union Station (740 pm departure) is canceled due to no equipment.  Amtrak 198 departing 815 pm from Wash. will accomodate passsengers at Washington to New Carrollton, BWI, and Balt./ Penn station.

MARC Train 538 from Washington/ Union Station (613 pm departure)  to Perryville is expected to operate 15 minutes late due to congestion.

MARC Train 436 from Washington/ Union Station ( 530 pm  departure) is operating 30 minutes late due to single tracking.

 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: MARC train
        

With the temperature hitting 101 degrees, MARC is having its predictable canceled trains and delays this evening, but so far nothing has broken down between stations. If the system can get through the night without a stalled train, you could almost call that a victory -- at least in the expectations game.Here's the latest report from MTA:

Penn Line Commuters: MARC Train 436 from Washington/ Union Station ( 530 pm  departure) is operating 30 minutes late due to single tracking.

Penn Line Commuters: MARC Train 534 departed Washington 20 minutes late due to single tracking

Camden Line Commuters:  MARC Train 852 departing Washington/ Union Station (551 pm departure) is operating 30 minutes late due to disabled train at  Wash. terminal.

MARC Train 850 from Washington/Union Station (516 pm departure) to Camden Station is operating 40 minutes late due to mechanical problem. 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

The heat seems to be taking its toll on MARC tonight, with problems cropping up on the Camden and Brunswick lines as well as the Penn Line.

Here's the 5:50 report  from the MTA:

 Penn Line Commuters:MARC Train 436 from Washington Union Station ( 5:30 pm  departure)is expect to operate 30 minutes late due to single tracking

Penn Line Commuters: MARC Train 534 departed Washington 20 minutes late due to single tracking

Camden Line Commuters:  MARC Train 850 from Washington/Union Station (Departure 5:16 PM) to Camden Station is operating 10-15 minutes late due to mechanical problem.

Penn Line Commuters: MARC Train 450 departed Washington 20 minutes late due to single tracking.

UPDATE: MARC Train 432 is canceled MARC Train 534 departing Washington Union Station at 5:15 PM will accomodate passengers from Train 432 and make all stops.  Expect overcrowding condition.

Continue reading "MARC woes continue to add up" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

The follies were a little late getting started but the summertime blues are getting into swing on MARC. The latest:

Last updated: July 07, 5:27 PM
 

Penn Line Commuters:  UPDATE MARC Train 432 is canceled MARC Train 534 departing Washington Union Station at 5:15 PM will accomodate passengers from Train 432 and make all stops.  Expect overcrowding condition.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

With temperatures reaching as high as 101 today, it was perhaps inevitable there would be problems on the Penn and Camden MARC lines. The only surprises are that they are relatively few and didn't crop up until after 5 p.m. Here's the latest from the MTA:

Last updated: July 07, 5:12 PM
 

Penn Line Commuters:  UPDATE MARC Train 534 departing Washington Union Station at 5:15 PM will make all stops to Baltimore to accommodate passengers from Train 432.  Expect overcrowding condition.

MARC Train 432 at  Washington Union Station (Depart 4:40 PM) is delayed due to overhead wire problem. Expect 15-20 minutes delay. Update to follow

 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

The following message to MARC riders from Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley was posted on the MTA's web site this morning:

Severe heat, like that forecast throughout this week, can cause problems with equipment operating on all MARC lines.  The performance of locomotives, air conditioning in passenger cars and catenary lines carrying electrical power on the Penn Line are pushed to the limit in excessive heat.  We remind customers that heat related issues have the potential to create delays throughout the system.  We want to assure you that we work with our partners (Amtrak on the Penn Line and CSX on the Brunswick and Camden lines) to aggressively address these issues when they occur and resolve them as quickly as possible.  We appreciate your understanding and your patience. 

A heat order, slowing trains because of rail conditions, has already been issued by CSX for the Brunswick Line, and the Camden Line can't be  far behind. Such orders are routine this time of year.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train
        

Here's the 7:11 p.m. advisory from MARC on the many delays this evening. With temperatures reaching as high as 105, it should come as no surprise. It probably comes as a relief to the folks running the system that it wasn't a lot worse. And judging by the lack of irate email, MARC riders are being realists about the challenges the system faces in this heat.

# MARC Train 538 to Perryville is operating 15 minutes late departing Seabrook Station.

 # UPDATE: Train 855 expected to arrive Union Station 15 minunte late due to heat inspection, as a result Train 854 ( 6:43 PM departure from Union Station) is expected to depart approximately 20 minute late.

# MARC Train 439 to Washington Union Station is 30 minute late departing Seabrook station.

# Penn Line UPDATE: Due to damaged wires and single tracking, all trains continue to experience delays approx. 30-40 minutes late. Train 436 ( 5:30 PM departure from Union Station) has just left Union Station 40 minutes late.

# Brunswick Line Passengers: Service delay 15-20 minutes due to signal problems.

# UPDATE: All Camden line trains are experiencing approximately 30 minutes delays due to signal and switch problems.

# Attention Camden and Brunswick Riders: CSX has issued heat orders for this afternoon starting at 1:00pm, until 7:00pm. Trains on both lines will operate 20 miles per hour under the normal maximum authorized speed but not less than 40 miles per hour. Delays can range from 10-15 minutes. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The forecast is for 100-degree temperatures again tomorrow. Wise MARC riders will plan for the worst.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 7:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MARC train
        

Here's the 6:24 p.m. update on MARC from the MTA:

# Penn Line UPDATE:  Due to damaged wires and single tracking, all trains continue to experience delays approx.  30-40 minutes late. Train 436 ( 5:30 PM departure from Union Station) has just left Union Station 40 minutes late.
# Brunswick Line Passengers:  Service delay 15-20 minutes due to signal problems.
# MARC Train 534 approaching BWI  (Departing 5:47 PM) is operating 20 minutes late due to single track operation.
# MARC Train 439 approaching Halethorpe operating 15 minutes late due to late equipment turn.
# UPDATE:  All Camden line trains are experiencing approximately 30 minutes delays due to signal and switch problems.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

With the temperature reaching 105 today at BWI, it should come as no surprise that the MARC train system is having what the MTA is calling "major disruptions." Here's the latest:

# UPDATE:  All Camden line trains are experiencing approximately 30 minutes delays due to signal and switch problems.
# UPDATE:  All Penn Line trains are experiencing approximately 30 minute delays due to damaged overhead wires (catenary) just outside of Washington Union Station causing a single track operation.
# MARC Train 848 to Baltimore/Camden is operating 40 minutes late approaching Muirkirk due to signal problem.
# UPDATE: MARC Train 530 approaching Bowie station (depart 4:46 PM) is 50 minutes late.

In heat like this, the only surprise is that conditions aren't worse. At least we can be thankful the MTA isn't dismissing the disrupptions  as "minor."

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MARC train
        

From the Maryland Transit Administration:

All North and South bound MARC Trains on the Penn Line will experience 20-30 minutes delays due to single tracking.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: MARC train
        

UPDATE: My observer aboard MARC reports that the train that had  been stalled reached Penn  Station about 25-28 minutes late. She said the Amtrak crew was courteous and communicative about what was happening, but the air-conditioning never did work properly.

REPORTED EARLIER: A source aboard MARC says a northbound Penn Line train was stalled about 10 minutes outside Union Station without air-conditioning before power was restored 15 minutes later. The MTA said the problem was with the Amtrak-owned overhead power supply but that the train is moving again -- but slowly.

Amtrak must have learned something from the June 21 fiasco. My source says there is water aboard -- not cold, but at least it's something.

Here's an update from aboard: "After approx. 15 minutes, the lights came on, followed by the A/C. 10 minutes later, we started moving. We traveled maybe 2 miles before the lights and A/C went out again, but we kept moving. As I write this sentence, we are approaching Bowie at speed."

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MARC train