6 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

News-Journal, Wilmington, DE, 6/22/15:

 

 

MARC trains could come to Delaware

 

 

Delaware and Maryland transit officials are discussing the possibility of extending MARC, Maryland’s commuter rail line – which now runs from Washington D.C. to Perryville, Maryland – as far north as Wilmington.

Here is the story.

 

It has been discussed before, but hopefully this will be around the corner in a few years.  It is interesting that they consider extending MARC to Wilmington, which is beyond Newark. Thus between Newark and Wilmington the MARC and SEPTA systems would overlap.  I'm a fan of one-seat rides, but could things end up whereby all SEPTA trains go no further than Wilmington, with timed transfers there to MARC to go to Newark, all Maryland points, and Washington, DC (a "Wilmington Shuffle")  ??

 

The article states that the Newark, DE station will be rebuilt to accommodate more capacity. One must also wonder if this will mean more Amtrak trains will stop there, as right now there are only very few Amtrak trains stopping there each day.

 

And one inaccuracy:

The only section of the Northeast rail corridor without commuter rail service is the segment from Perryville to Newark.

The last time I checked, there was also a segment without commuter rail service between New London, CT and Wickford Junction, RI.

[KevinKorell]

News-Journal, Wilmington, DE, 2/23/17:

 

 

​

Maryland trains to Newark inch closer

 

A longtime proposal to run commuter trains between Newark and Perryville, Maryland, took a step forward this week after transportation planners submitted preliminary results of a feasibility study to officials in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Update

 

The 20-mile stretch of track between Perryville and Newark is the only segment of the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston that lacks commuter rail service.

In almost 2 years since the last article in the above entry to this thread, nobody has corrected them. We still have the commuter rail gap in Rhode Island and Connecticut as well as the one in Delaware and Maryland.

[Sloan]

 

 

Study to examine extending MARC line to Newark

 

Regional transportation planners are conducting a feasibility study to examine the demand for an extension of the MARC commuter rail line from Perryville, Md., to Newark.

http://www.newarkpos...e9d41d52ae.html

[KevinKorell]

Delaware Public Media, 4/8/20:

 

 

  Lawmakers seek to link regional rail at new Newark train station   

 

 

 

A resolution in the General Assembly would direct DelDOT to work with Maryland and Pennsylvania, Amtrak and other regional entities to strengthen the rail service across all three states.

 

Story

 

Cross-posted in Train Stations forum for discussion of new station in Newark, DE.

[CNJRoss]

Greater Greater Washington, 4/22/20
 

Maryland looks at connecting MARC toward Philadelphia and within Baltimore

 

Imagine being able to travel all the way from New England, New York, or Philadelphia all the way to Baltimore, Washington, DC, or even Alexandria without ever once setting foot on an Amtrak train or a bus. Imagine being able to make your daily commute from Delaware or Cecil County to Baltimore by train.

 

Imagine being able to take the MARC Penn Line straight into Downtown Baltimore or being able to switch MARC trains much faster if the one you’re on breaks down. All these options might become a reality under studies the Maryland legislature has prescribed.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Also interesting in this article beyond the extension to Newark, DE is the exploration of ways to bring travelers into the true downtown Baltimore (Camden Station) from points along the Penn Line.   Besides a tunnel between Camden Station and Penn Station through Baltimore, other ideas include connecting wye tracks where Camden and Penn Lines cross, and/or building a combined Halethorpe station servicing both lines that would allow for a walking transfer between the two.

[KevinKorell]

Delaware Business Now, 4/26/20:

 

   Delaware legislators offer bill aimed at getting Maryland commuter trains to Newark 

 

 

 

 

Amid signs that Maryland is becoming more receptive to extending its commuter rail line to Delaware,  state  Rep. Ed Osienski and state Sen. Stephanie Hansen filed legislation that would authorize the Delaware Department of Transportation to work with other agencies to improve the regional rail network.

 

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