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 :D

A sign in one portion of the lot today stated No Parking in the lots this Saturday from 12am - 3pm or cars will be towed!


Sent from my BlackBerry

I got this email in my Inbox on Friday! Sounds good except that monthly ticket holders are getting screwed! You would think they would allow them to be used, because that one monthly ticket holder may be bringing 5 more new ticket buyers along with them. Now they may just skip MARC and drive to an outlying Metro station....I wonder what VRE is doing?

INAUGURATION DAY SERVICE

Presidential Inauguration Day is January 20, 2009, and MTA is working with event planners to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend. MTA will operate special MARC Train and Commuter Bus service that day as well as the prior day which is Martin Luther King Day.

MARC Train

Inauguration Day: Penn, Camden and Brunswick lines will operate between 5 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes, 10-trip tickets and previously purchased one-way tickets will not be accepted. All trains will be reserved and tickets must be purchased in advance. For the Penn Line, there will no service north of Penn Station.

Martin Luther King Day: Penn Line will operate on a regular schedule; Camden and Brunswick lines will operate on a limited schedule. Regular fares apply and passes will be accepted.

Commuter Bus

Inauguration Day: Buses will operate to Metrorail stations between 4 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes and 10-trip tickets will not be accepted. Special tickets may be purchased from drivers.

Martin Luther King Day: Buses will operate to Metrorail stations between 5:30 AM and 10 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes and 10-trip tickets will not be accepted. Special tickets may be purchased from drivers.

Details about schedules and tickets will be available Friday, December 12 at www.mtamaryland.com.

Man found with assault rifle...

(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 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

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.

I just got this lovely email:


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, including the acceptance of credit cards and Electronic Smart Benefits as payment.

Please consider these following program options:

1.CommuterDirect.com - Commuter Direct offers one-time MARC ticket purchases as well as renewable orders. Commuter Direct sells all ticket types including Monthly passes, Transit Link Card (TLC), one-way, and Ten-trip tickets. Credit Card, Commuter Choice Vouchers, Metrocheks and Electronic Smart Benefits are accepted at Commuter Direct. BWI riders who have a free parking account through the current CSX Ticket-By-Mail program may set up this benefit through Commuter Direct. Registration is now open and is very easy to do on-line at www.commuterdirect.com , or by calling 703-228-RIDE.

2.Ticket Vending Machines (TVM’s) - These machines are operational at select stations. Additional machines will be installed over the next several months. Only credit and debit cards can be used to purchase fare media from the TVM’s, and they will not accept Metrochek benefits.

3.Staffed Ticket Offices - Several MARC stations and Amtrak locations will continue to sell monthly tickets. MARC stations will accept Metrocheks, Commuter Choice Vouchers, cash, and Visa or Master Card. Amtrak locations accept all major credit cards. Go to the MTA web site at www.mtamaryland.com for hours and locations of staffed stations.

MARC highly recommends that current CSX Ticket-By-Mail riders change their purchase method before the November deadline to insure a seamless transition to another program.

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.).

Since I drove to New Carrollton this morning instead of taking the MARC, I had to buy a SmartTrip Card in order to get out of the garage! So this afternoon I get to New Carrollton and and proceed to try and buy my SmartTrip card. As I exit the fare gate I cross the way to the row of pass/farecards and farecards machines. I figured Pass = SmartTrip card and proceed to enter my cash. Um no.... luckily I didn't purchase it. I look around thinking I am going to need to ask for help :P station managers are all tied up with tourists trying to get kids through the fare gates correctly!

Then I notice 2 machines over by the ATMs... mosey over. yep SmartTrip . and they only deal in $10! I need $13.25 ( 5 base for the card and $8.25 (according to wmata.com) to pay for parking), so I purchase my card and wait for a receipt... no receipt comes out, keep hitting # nothing. Then I think maybe it wants my PIN, so I try that... nope...then I decide well I need to go back to the other machines and load up some more money and I can check if it has the $5 fare. It did ... I add $10 more and off I go! (and actually only $6.25 was deducted for parking)

The drive home was actually pretty good... so now I guess it is good that I have the SmarTrip card so when I go to happy hour in DC, I won't need to wait for a MARC late in the evening ( after 6:30/7pm... they only run about 1 per hour so it really sucks if you miss the train you are aiming for)... I can just drive in!

So I woke up this morning, got ready and planned on taking a train that leaves 20 minutes later than what I normally take. As I was ready to head out I checked my BlackBerry and found an email from the MTA that PENN line service was suspended due to a fatality. So off I went to New Carrollton. Traffic was not bad and I actually made good time (I arrived before I would have if I had taken the later MARC train I was aiming for)...

This explains why a helicopter was hovering over the station.

PENN service has resumed.

I can't wait to see how much its costs me to park! ( I don't have a SmarTrip card because my monthly MARC pass includes unlimited Metro trips)

An update to this post.

Looks like the plan to get weekend MARC service up and running has hit some roadblocks.

I have been riding MARC and Metrorail for approx 2.5 years (daily commute wise)... and this is the 2nd or 3rd time I have noticed MARC sends out these type of customer service announcements... (full text will be below) I get them because I am subscribed to the MARC Penn line email alerts.. as I am for orange Metro email alerts... and I have never gotten an apology ( or explanatory message). Not even after the terrible handling of the Orange line derailment many weeks ago (Metro was reporting a Major disruption due to mechanical difficulties..not even close to the real situation... and for a person that needs to transfer to another transportation system you need the most accurate info possible so you can start working on your plan B if needed, I was lucky that a coworker that drives had already left and heard the real story on the radio/WTOP and called) ... the one good thing to come out of that situation was I found this blog :)

MARC's apology/message -

A Message from the MTA Administrator

For the past six weeks on-time performance for MARC Train service has fallen far below what customers expect or deserve. During June Penn Line trains were on-time 81% of the time; Camden Line trains were on-time 63% of the time and Brunswick Line trains were on-time 63% of the time. Although some service disruptions are unavoidable, there were instances where we could have taken actions to reduce the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that you and your family, friends and colleagues experienced. Specifically, service was disrupted for the following reasons:

• Rising summer temperatures put additional stress on equipment and tracks, increasing the likelihood of failure;
• A severe storm cut power to the track signals and blew down trees along the Brunswick Line, forcing us to cancel service;
• A fuel tanker overturned on I-95 in Baltimore City, causing fire authorities to close the Camden Line;
• Our fleet of diesel locomotives is nearly 40 years old, and despite a major overhaul 10 years ago is increasingly unreliable;
• Electric locomotives used on the Penn Line have been out of service for a scheduled overhaul, requiring us to use the older diesel locomotives instead and
• Persistent reliability problems with our newest electric locomotives.

We are taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in us. I have directed MARC Operations to review and analyze each recent incident with Amtrak and CSX Transportation, and implement measures to reduce this risk of reoccurrences in the future.

Penn Line customers should know that MARC managers communicate with their counterparts at Amtrak on a daily basis to anticipate and address issues that cause service delays. We are also working closely with Amtrak to improve the reliability of the electric locomotives. An overhaul of our four AEM-7 electric locomotives is nearly complete with the first overhauled unit back in service in early August and the second in service by mid-August.

For customers of the Brunswick and Camden lines, you should know that CSX has recently relocated dispatchers from Jacksonville, Florida to Baltimore which should greatly improve the communication and reliability of the service.

As we have previously announced, MTA has awarded a contract for the replacement of the diesel locomotives, and 26 new units will arrive in Maryland at the rate of two a month beginning in early 2009. Maintenance on the existing units will be enhanced to keep them operating safely.

In the mean time, we will continue to provide real-time information about MARC service using our email notification system. You can also see the current location of any train at www.marctracker.com. To further enhance our communication we have initiated a project to replace the public address system at all stations.

As MARC customers, you deserved better -- a lot better! We regret any inconvenience you have experienced and thank you for your continued support of MARC Train. Over the next several days MARC managers will be available at Union Station to monitor the service and answer your questions.

Paul J. Wiedefeld
Administrator

Update - according to the MTA the survey is experiencing technical difficulties and they are working on the problem.

are you a MARC Rider? Take the customer survey!

I didn't even make it into a train car today!!

(I am standing in the vestibule... right where 2 car trains connect together)

Sent from my BlackBerry

@ the New Carrollton MARC station!

Eeek!
Sent from my BlackBerry

Just another reason I am happy that I do not live in MoCo!!

This morning as I was walking up to the platform, the first pod of people was decidely smaller than usual and many people were facing away from the train tracks. As I got closer I heard people talking about a tree falling, then I haerd someone say "... and now its on fire..." I looked over and saw that something, probably another tree, had caught on fire! Then POW something exploded and sparks were flying (luckily it was around where no one was standing and I am pretty sure cars weren't parked there either). Then another POW! Then another POW! and then the train station, parking lot and platforms went dark! Lost power for about 30-60 seconds then it either came back or it was emergency backup! Fire Rescue rolled up as the train was pulling out of the station.

I saw this cool rainbow while waiting for my MARC train this evening.

(ignore the power lines)