Tuesday….My usual MARC train pulled into New Carrollton during the AM commute, and the regulars that depart the train there and hop on the Orange line did just that. But as we sat on Metro train on the platform waiting [...]]]>

It has been a wacky week to be a MARC train commuter (PENN line especially!)

Tuesday….My usual MARC train pulled into New Carrollton during the AM commute, and the regulars that depart the train there and hop on the Orange line did just that. But as we sat on Metro train on the platform waiting to depart, we noticed the MARC train had not departed, and in fact people started pouring out of it! Uh-oh… packed orange train! Shortly there after I got an email alert from MTA stating that trains were terminating @ New Carrollton due to Amtrak/Police Activity between NC and Union Station. WMATA would have called it “Track Maintenance”. (supposedly human remains were found near the tracks… but never really heard anything else except a nice email alert maybe an hour later that trains were now running to Union Station).

Wednesday…. Usual MARC morning train was running late… maybe 10 minutes. After we were picked up in Odenton I got an email alert that stated due to water main break near tracks Southbound trains would be delayed 10-15 minutes. Email alerts continued throughout the day (Situation deteriorated rapidly… shortly after my train left Odenton MARC rail traffic was suspended between West Baltimore and Odenton. But an email came out and relayed all of this info, and more indcating that shuttle busses were running, METRO (wmata) was accepting MARC tickets, and that the Camden lines were running.) Emails continued throughout the day, and started referring to which afternoon trains would be running and making all stops. (The afternoon train I caught was packed to the gills, 7 minutes prior to it leaving Uniod Station they announced it was packed and were not taking anymore passengers. Those of us that caught it at New Carrollton somehow managed to squish ourselves onboard.) MOre emails continued throughout the night… even ones that said normal service would continue tomorrow ( aka today) with some minor delays.

I guess MARC wants to give me lots of trouble before I depart for good

Sent from my BlackBerry

(i was not on this train)

Great way to start the day!

So I usually take one of two MARC trains – the 5:52 or 6:20 (yes that is a.m.). This morning I rolled into the station around 5:58 and saw a train at the platform … I thought sweet I am going to make the early train! Except [...]]]>

Great way to start the day!

So I usually take one of two MARC trains – the 5:52 or 6:20 (yes that is a.m.). This morning I rolled into the station around 5:58 and saw a train at the platform … I thought sweet I am going to make the early train! Except the conductors aren’t outside telling people to run or they are going to close the doors. Then I pass a guy smoking a cig with one foot in the train door… I said “Is it broke?” He replies “It is now!” So I keep walking down the platform towards my usual car. Now all the doors are closed. So I turn around and go back to the front… 1 conductor is telling people “They closed the doors to fix the brakes… we don’t want anyone getting hurt, they will open the doors when the problems are fixed.” So I turn back around and head to the back.

About 10-15 minutes pass… the train makes this start up noise… and they start on their way… without the doors opening! Luckily the next train showed up about 5 minutes later (otherwise there may have been a riot!!!!).

Sent from my BlackBerry

Sent from my BlackBerry

—–Original Message—–

From: Maryland Transit Administration <mta@alerts.marylandmail.com>

Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:33:53

To: XXXXX

Subject: MTA: October 16, 2008 3:30 PM

Important Information for MARC Train and Commuter Bus Riders

The sources of revenue that support the operation of MTA’s MARC Train and Commuter Bus services have declined dramatically since [...]]]>

fyi. I just got this in my inbox!

Sent from my BlackBerry

—–Original Message—–

From: Maryland Transit Administration <mta@alerts.marylandmail.com>

Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:33:53

To: XXXXX

Subject: MTA: October 16, 2008 3:30 PM

Important Information for MARC Train and Commuter Bus Riders

The sources of revenue that support the operation of MTA’s MARC Train and Commuter Bus services have declined dramatically since the start of the fiscal year on July 1. Regrettably, MTA must reduce its budget, and while the majority of reductions are taking place in our administrative budget some MARC Train and Commuter Bus services are proposed for elimination. The proposed service reductions are listed below.

Service reductions are proposed to take effect on January 12, 2009 or sooner if the service reduction is based on a holiday.

MTA will hold public hearings throughout the State to receive public comments on these proposals. Click www.mtamaryland.com/Commuter_MARC_Hearings.cfm for a list of public hearings. Citizens may provide comments at any hearing that it is convenient, or may send comments directly to the MTA by mail or email. No matter how it is sent, any comment received by December 26, 2008 will be considered before proposals are finalized.

By mail, please address comments to:

Mr. Glenn Litsinger

MTA Office of Customer Information

6 St. Paul Street

Baltimore MD 21202

By email, address comments regarding Commuter Bus proposals to commuterbus@mtamaryland.com with “Hearing Comments” as the subject heading. Address comments regarding MARC Train proposals to marc@mtamaryland.com with “Hearing Comments” as the subject heading.

The following services are proposed for elimination:

Commuter Bus

· All service from Baltimore to Columbia on the Nos. 310 and 311 Lines

· All service on the No. 320 Line from Laurel to Baltimore

· All service on the No. 412 Line from Bel Air to Baltimore

· One round trip from Harford County to Baltimore on the Nos. 410, 411 and 420 lines

· All service on the No. 913 Line from Waldorf to the Suitland Metrorail Station

· All service on the No. 921 Line from Annapolis to New Carrollton Metrorail Station

· One round trip on the No. 995 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC and the branch of the line serving Oakland Mills

· Saturday service and one weekday mid-morning round trip on the No. 929 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC

· In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans’ Day, to:

· Eliminate all holiday service (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day and the day after Thanksgiving)

· Eliminate all service on the day after Christmas

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the day after New Year’s Day.

MARC Train

· The last two evening round trip trains on the Penn Line (Trains #445, 446, 447 and 448)

· All service on Mondays through Thursdays on Brunswick Line train #871 (Friday service to continue)

· Termination of Brunswick Line train #883 at Brunswick

· All service on the mid-day bus shuttle between Odenton and Laurel

· In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans’ Day, to:

· Eliminate all holiday service on all lines (Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day and the day after Thanksgiving)

· Eliminate service on all lines on the day after Christmas

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on the day after New Year’s Day.

· The MTA also proposes to eliminate the MARC Ten-Trip Ticket.

Dear MARC “Ticket-By-Mail” Customer:

Effective November 1, 2008, MARC will discontinue the CSX “Ticket-by-Mail” program. CONSEQUENTLY, THE NOVEMBER MONTHLY TICKETS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER WILL BE THE LAST SOLD THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

Fortunately, other programs are now available that allow for MARC monthly ticket purchases and that also offer more flexible payment options, [...]]]>

I just got this lovely email:

Dear MARC “Ticket-By-Mail” Customer:

Sincerely,
John Hovatter
Director
MARC Train and Commuter Bus Services

Not sure if I am happy about this or not. on the plus side they accept payment using SmartBenefits, but the company I currently work for doesn’t offer that.
Minus side – I hate wating in lines so I am not looking forward to buying these tickets at any station.

The last option CommuterDirect sounds good in theory, but I had bad luck with them when I purchased my first MARC ticket over 2.5 years ago (they sent me the wrong month, and it was a huge hassle to get a ticket for the correct month.).