Stuck on Amtrak

Here I am stuck on an Amtrak train at BWI at 9:30pm after a long day at work and running on little sleep from last night. We've been holding outside BWI for about 30 minutes because of a 'situation' with a passenger. Turns out that Amtrak explanations for delays are just as vague as on MARC.

Why am I stuck on Amtrak instead of MARC tonight you ask? It's the second week in a row that MARC's been running ihe 's' holiday schedule which means the last train leaves DC for Baltimore on the Penn Line at 7:40pm. So for those of us who have work schedules that stretch beyond a 9 to 5 it means coughing up 20 bucks to get home at night. I'd like to find out why Amtrak doesn't honor monthly MARC ticket holders on these occasions, I assume since it's a busy time during the holidays they only want to take paying customers.

So tired and about to strangle the passenger seated behind me who's blasting elevator music from his headphones.

MARC's a mess following snowstorm

MARC wasn't even able to get the dates right the day after the snow stopped flying. My boyfriend pointed out that in the notice below, the date in the subject line of the email sent out by MARC notifying passengers that the system would run a limited schedule on Monday, is incorrect. There's also a misspelling and what I consider a bit of a preachy tone telling riders how to handle the snow (then again I'm originally from New England and I think people in this area totally overact to a couple feet of snowfall).

Trains this morning we're running between 20 minutes to an hour behind schedule. They were also overcrowded as MARC is on a limited holiday schedule today, which means that there about five less trains running today. The last train to leave DC tonight will depart at 7:40pm- so much for my plan to work late before I take off some time for the holiday.

Despite the fact that the fed was closed today, Penn Station was jam-packed with travelers, so I hope MARC goes back to a regular schedule tomorrow before they return to a limited schedule for the holidays.

Amtrak trains were also running behind this morning, about an hour late when I left Penn Station at 7:30am.


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Transit Administration
[mailto:mta@alerts.marylandmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 6:08 PM
To: XXXXX
Subject: MTA: MARC service on S schedule for Monday, Dec 20. Go to
www.mtamaryland.com for more details.

Attention MARC passengers--

MARC will operate an "S" schedule on Monday, December 21, 2009 due to
Saturday's snowstorm and the Federal Government's decision to close on
Monday. Only trains with an "S" under the train number in the timetable
will operate.

MARC station parking lots and platforms have or are in the process of
being cleared of snow and salt is being applied. The platforms have
been cleared, but passing trains continue to blow snow back on them.
Please exercise EXTREEM caution tomorrow morning when leaving your car,
walking to the platform, and boarding the train:

Leave yourself plenty of time to not only get to the station, but once
there to get to the platform.

Use the handrails when using station steps or ramps as icy conditions
may still exist.

Hold the handrails while boarding, detraining, and while walking through
the train. The vestibule steps can become icy and wet shoes can be
slippery on the car floors.

Above all else, wear sensible shoes and clothing. Temperatures will be
quite frigid in the morning so bundle up and wear shoes that will allow
you plenty of traction.

A decision about service for Tuesday, December 22 will be made Monday
afternoon. Thank you for riding MARC Train Service.

December 20, 2009 6:03 PM

Bikes on MARC?

Area transit blogs are making noise about the merits of allowing non-folding bikes on MARC trains.

MARC has an across the board ban, according to Matt Johnson over at Greater Greater Washington, on bringing bikes aboard, citing safety and space concerns.

Johnson says that the ban is only one of two in the country's commuter rail system. He lists a variety of solutions for MARC's concerns: straps to tie down bikes, allowing bikes during off peak hours, limiting cyclists to two per train.

He also argues that MARC is not following a 2000 law passed by the Maryland General Assembly that requires the MTA to make accommodations for cyclists.

Johnson's post provoked a heated discussion, i.e. from commenter neff: "I'd rather see all private cars and bikes banned than have smelly sweaty bike jerks invade another space of pedestrians."

The Sun's Dresser picked up on Johnson's post and took MARC's side in the argument, also citing safety concerns.

"In an uncrowded car, I can see them becoming a missile," Dresser worries. Dresser notes that he's a fan of cyclists and suggests that commuters purchase two bikes, keeping one at work and one at home.

As a daily MARC commuter who occasionally bikes from her house in Baltimore to Penn Station, I've often thought about buying a folding bike as it would be easier to maneuver during rush hour. Used folding bikes on Craigslist like this one are affordable at $125, especially when you think about what you'd save on Metro fares.

Considering the glacial pace at which MARC makes changes to its system, I wouldn't hold your breath for a relaxing of the bike ban.

:

7am Penn Line creeping along on middle track

Presumably since there's ongoing track work on the third track (see below) the 7am departure from Baltimore to DC is traveling on the middle track. We've been creeping along at a snail's pace between stops and loading at BWI took about 10 minutes as all the passengers could only board through one door and by stepping down onto the tracks and then using a small foot stool to get up into the train.

Original arrival time in DC was 8am, it's 7:45 now and we've only just left BWI.
------Original Message------
From: Maryland Transit Administration
To: stuckonmarc@gmail.com
Subject: MTA: Penn Line southbound train operating 10-30"late;northbound train operating 20-25"late.
Sent: Dec 11, 2009 7:36 AM

Penn Line Update:Track work is in progress on No.3 track between WBal and BWI. Southbound trains are operating 10-30" late; northbound train 402 operating express to Baltimore, train 506 operating 20-25" late. Updates to follow as information is made available.

December 11, 2009 7:35 AM


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Foiled by MARC

I tried to get an early start today so that I could go to the gym before work. Alas MARC's Penn Line's been hit by a bunch of delays this morning- some due to Amtrak interefence. So goes the life of a commuter...

More and more I'm feeling like I'm living in Cuba again, where delays and break downs on public transportation meant that no schedule even existed for the public bus.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Bring your complaints to MARC managers tomorrow night in DC

Since it's politically unwise to raise fares during a recession and ticket sales pay for only about half of what it costs to run MARC, we're looking at a continually beleaguered commuter system for the forseeable future.

The only way at this point to push for improvements is to show up en mass at events where top MARC officials speak to the public.

So come to Union Station tomorrow between 4 and 7 to let the MARC managers know what it costs you to be late to work on a weekly basis because of system delays.

More info below-
------Original Message------
From: Maryland Transit Administration
To: stuckonmarc@gmail.com
Subject: MTA: Meet the MARC Management on Thursday,12-10-09 from 4-7pm. www.mtamaryland.com
Sent: Dec 8, 2009 2:03 PM

Reminder: Meet the MARC Management on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at Union Station from 4-7pm. A MARC employee, proficient in American Sign Language will be on location to assist with questions and concerns.

December 8, 2009 2:00 PM


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Penn Line bogged down by delays, cancellations

This gives you an idea of the f#*kshow that is the MARC system this morning:

Penn Line Update: train 415 is operating 30 minutes late, followed by train 417 operating 20-25 minutes late. Expect crowded conditions. Train 521 is canceled Perryville to Washington, Amtrak 183 will handle passengers. Northbound passengers, train 408 is operating 20 minutes late.

December 9, 2009 8:13 AM

I'm on Amtrak's 183, it's standing room only.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: stuckonmarc@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:03:52
To: Stuckonmarc<stuckonmarc.10minslate@blogger.com>
Subject: Fw: 7:40am PennLine lost power

We're being put on Amtrak's 8am train that stops at BWI, New Carrolton and Union Station.

It's good that we have a compensated alternative though I don't enjoy the holier than thou looks we get from regular Amtrak riders.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: stuckonmarc@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 12:50:21
To: Stuckonmarc<stuckonmarc.10minslate@blogger.com>
Subject: 7:40am PennLine lost power

We lost power just a few feet south of Baltimore. Conductors informed us that we'd have to go back to the station to figure out the problem and determine whether the train will continue to D.C.

Why does this always seem to happen when I have an early morning meeting?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fw: 7:40am PennLine lost power

We're being put on Amtrak's 8am train that stops at BWI, New Carrolton and Union Station.

It's good that we have a compensated alternative though I don't enjoy the holier than thou looks we get from regular Amtrak riders.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: stuckonmarc@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 12:50:21
To: Stuckonmarc<stuckonmarc.10minslate@blogger.com>
Subject: 7:40am PennLine lost power

We lost power just a few feet south of Baltimore. Conductors informed us that we'd have to go back to the station to figure out the problem and determine whether the train will continue to D.C.

Why does this always seem to happen when I have an early morning meeting?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

7:40am PennLine lost power

We lost power just a few feet south of Baltimore. Conductors informed us that we'd have to go back to the station to figure out the problem and determine whether the train will continue to D.C.

Why does this always seem to happen when I have an early morning meeting?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry