MARC Train is the commuter rail system serving the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area in the United States. The system is owned by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA Maryland), and serves Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The system covers a total route length of 198.2 miles (319.0 km) along three rail lines. [1] In the 2019 fiscal year, MARC Train service had average weekday ridership of 36,375 passengers. [2]
State-supported commuter rail operations in Maryland began in 1974 when the Maryland Department of Transportation (Maryland DOT) funded train services from Washington, D.C. along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, later owned by CSX Transportation. The following year, in 1975, Maryland DOT began funding operations on the Conrail-owned Northeast Corridor, whose ownership was transferred to Amtrak in 1983. Following a marketing study in 1984, the Maryland-funded commuter rail service was branded as MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter). [3]
Current MARC Train service includes the Penn Line (operated on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor), the Camden Line (operated on CSX's Capital Subdivision), and the Brunswick Line (operated on CSX's Cumberland, Metropolitan, and Old Main Line Subdivisions, with limited service along the Frederick Branch). [3] There are 42 MARC Train stations in the commuter rail system; [4] all three lines terminate at Union Station in Washington, D.C, where passengers can connect with Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express, and Washington Metro trains. [3] Development of a new MARC station at the former Amtrak station in Elkton, Maryland began in 2014, with plans to open by 2040. [5]
Lines
| Line | Inbound terminus | Outbound terminus | Stations | Route length | Owner | Operator | Daily ridership (2019) [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Station | Frederick or Martinsburg | 19 | 85.0 miles (136.8 km) | CSX | Bombardier | 7,392 | |
| Camden Station | 12 | 36.6 miles (58.9 km) | 5,075 | ||||
| Perryville | 13 | 76.6 miles (123.3 km) | Amtrak | Amtrak | 23,908 |
Stations
All stations located in Maryland, unless otherwise noted.
Former stations
This list includes stations abandoned since the beginning of public subsidies in the mid 1970s.
| Station | Line | Closure date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berwyn | January 31, 1994 | Berwyn | Closed due to low ridership | |
| Bowie | February 27, 1989 | Bowie | Replaced by Bowie State station | |
| Capital Beltway | October 1983 | Lanham | Replaced by New Carrollton station | |
| Edmondson Avenue | April 27, 1984 | West Baltimore | Replaced with West Baltimore station | |
| Elkridge | July 1996 | Elkridge | Replaced by Dorsey station | |
| Frederick Road | April 27, 1984 | Baltimore | ||
| Hyattsville | 1980s | Hyattsville | ||
| Jericho Park | June 26, 1981 | Bowie | Bowie State station opened on the same site in 1989 | |
| Landover | August 1982 | Landover | Service moved to Amtrak's Capital Beltway station | |
| Lanham | August 1982 | Lanham | Service moved to Amtrak's Capital Beltway station | |
| Silver Spring | 2000 | Silver Spring | Replaced with new MARC platforms at the Silver Spring Metro station |
References
- ^ a b "MARC Growth and Investment Plan Update 2013 to 2050" (PDF). Maryland Transit Administration. September 9, 2013. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "Maryland Transit - MARC Trains Stations". Maryland.gov. January 21, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Van Hattem, Matt (June 30, 2006). "Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC)". Trains. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "MARC Station Information". Maryland Transit Administration. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
- ^ Owens, Jacob (August 28, 2014). "Elkton examines long-term plan to build new MARC station". Cecil Whig. Retrieved April 19, 2015.