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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 August 2006 - 02:45 PM

Since I no longer do guides for fests, I am going to use this topic to give you a slight tutorial on Baltimore and its rail transportation lines. Let's start with the rail stations. There are two major rail stations in Baltimore. Baltimore Penn Station is the larger of the two. Amtrak's Regional, Acela Express, and long distance trains to Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont all call here. We'll get to the commuter rail lines later, but know for now that only one of MARC's three commuter rail lines also uses Penn Station. To go from Penn Station to downtown one must ride a bus, get a taxi, or take the light rail. Camden Station is much smaller than Penn Station. It shares a platform with MTA's light rail. It is located closer to downtown and right next to Orioles Park at Camden Yards. Camden Station is only served by MARC's Camden Line. On our fest we will be using both of these stations. Both are served directly by MTA's light rail service, and both are within several blocks walk of MTA's Metro heavy rail.


Kevin Korell


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Lakewood, NJ


#2 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 August 2006 - 03:05 PM

Let's talk now about MARC. MARC is an arm of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). It runs commuter trains that serve both Baltimore and Washington, DC. All three of MARC's lines run Monday through Friday.

The Penn Line runs entirely on Amtrak trackage between Perryville, MD, Baltimore Penn Station, and Washington, DC Union Station. Bidirectional service is offered all day on weekdays.

The Camden Line runs on CSX trackage (except for the approaches to Washington Union Station) between Baltimore Camden Station and Washington, DC Union Station. Service is offered throughout the day in both directions on weekdays.

The other line is the Brunswick Line, which does not serve Baltimore. It runs along CSX trackage (same route as Amtrak's CAPITOL LIMITED) to Brunswick. Several trains on this line go beyond Brunswick to 3 stations in West Virginia, the farthest being Martinsburg. And a branch of the Brunswick Line diverges at Point of Rocks to serve two stations in the Frederick area. Service on all parts of the Brunswick Line operates primarily with the flow of the rush hours.

The Penn Line has connections to MTA's light rail at Baltimore Penn Station. It is a few blocks walk from Penn Station to the State Center station on MTA's heavy rail Metro. The Penn Line also connects with Washington DC's Metro Orange Line at New Carrollton, and its Metro Red Line at Washington Union Station.

The Camden Line connects with MTA's light rail at Baltimore Camden Station. One can also walk several blocks to the Charles Center Metro station. It also connects with Washington, DC's Metro Green Line at Greenbelt and College Park, and its Metro Red Line at Washington Union Station.

The Brunswick Line connects with Washington, DC's Metro Red Line at Rockville, Silver Spring, and Washington Union Station.


Kevin Korell


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#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 August 2006 - 03:21 PM

Here is information about Maryland Transit Administration's heavy rail Metro line. Metro serves a single corridor between downtown Baltimore and the northwestern suburbs.

The original line ran from Charles Center downtown to Reisterstown Plaza. It was later extended to Owings Mills on the outer end, and to Johns Hopkins Hospital on the downtown end.

The Metro runs totally underground in downtown Baltimore, but the rest of the line is either at or above grade. The outer portion of the line beyond Old Court runs in the median of a freeway (I-795).

Fare collection is accomplished at faregates. One must purchase a farecard at a separate machine, and then the farecard is placed in the faregate for entry. A DayPass will suffice as admission to Metro faregates as well as proof-of-purchase for the light rail.

Metro does not directly interface with the light rail lines. However, at Lexington Market and State Center, the Metro and light rail are roughly one block parallel to one another.


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#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 August 2006 - 03:37 PM

Finally, we talk about the MTA's light rail system. After a recent project to double track 90% of the mainline trackage, service has been totally restored to the entire system. There are currently three distinct services:
  • Timonium-Cromwell (Glen Burnie)
  • Hunt Valley-BWI Airport
  • Penn Shuttle (Penn Station-University of Baltimore/Mt. Royal)
Before the project, the Penn Station service ran through to Cromwell. Now, the Penn Station service is a one-minute shuttle ride to connect with services on other lines in either direction.

The basic downtown trunk line runs along Howard Street. The Penn Line diverges from the trunk at University of Baltimore/Mt. Royal. The BWI Airport and Cromwell services split at Linthicum.

The northern end of the line runs through an industrial park, and then terminates in Hunt Valley in the parking lot of a former shopping mall that has been converted to big box stores like WalMart. The southern end of the line at Cromwell Station in Glen Burnie ends across the street from a strip shopping center with several fast food restaurants. The BWI Airport endpoint has access to rest rooms and airport-type food as well as vending machines snacks.

One can connect with the Metro by getting off at either Cultural Center or Lexington Market and then walking one block west.

MARC's Camden Line station is adjacent to the Camden Yards light rail stop. MARC and Amtrak service at Penn Station is served by the Penn Shuttle.

Fares on the light rail are proof-of-purchase. One much be carrying a valid ticket if approached by a fare inspector. These tickets can be purchased at any light rail station.

A DayPass will suffice as admission to Metro faregates as well as proof-of-purchase for the light rail.


Kevin Korell


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Lakewood, NJ


#5 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 August 2006 - 12:48 PM

A few more tidbits of information: Maryland MTA bans food and drink on its bus, light rail and Metro vehicles. It is allowed on MARC trains. I have also read that photography is prohibited by the Maryland MTA, even MARC trains on Amtrak's property. I don't know if it has been tested in court, but from what I have seen, a ban still exists. So if anyone wishes to shoot photos on or near the trains you're at your own risk.


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





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