American Dream

MARC ills test loyal riders' patience

Rails: Passengers complain of breakdowns, delays and poor excuses, but use of
the state's commuter service is growing.

By Michael Dresser
Sun Staff

August 14, 2005

Jim Akers has seen it all on the MARC line this summer: Crowded rail cars. Broken-down locomotives. Trains slowed to a crawl. E-mail alerts that arrive too late to be useful.

"It's been a rough time," said the Ellicott City resident, who commutes to Washington on MARC's Camden line.

Maryland transportation officials concede that MARC performance has suffered in recent weeks, mostly because of heat-related problems. In July, for instance, 82 percent of trains ran on time -- well below the state's 92 percent goal.

The problems have been especially severe on the Camden and Brunswick lines, where the company that owns the tracks restricts speeds for safety reasons when the air temperature exceeds 90 degrees.

But even with MARC's woes, its ridership is up and its riders remain loyal.

"It's still the best way. Even with those delays, you'll get there sooner than if you drive," Akers said.

Like many MARC riders, Akers is involved in a passionate love-hate relationship with the state's commuter rail service. It's a bond that's been tested by delays, cancellations and sometimes-lame excuses.

With its subsidy running higher than state law allows, passengers' patience may soon be further tested with a fare increase. But with gas prices at record levels, it's doubtful many riders would switch to cars.

"Overall, it is a good service. People recognize that it's a good value and they like it," state Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan said.

MARC gives its passengers an estimated 27,000 rides a day on three commuter lines: the Penn Line between Perryville and Washington's Union Station via Penn Station, the Camden Line between Camden Station and Union Station, and the Brunswick Line between Washington and Martinsburg, W.Va., with a spur serving Frederick. Ridership is up from 24,000 in 2003.

In response to recent woes, MARC's management has adopted a strategy that combines profuse apologies with unabashed finger-pointing at its track-owning partners -- Amtrak and CSX Transportation.

"We would like to apologize to our Brunswick Line riders for Friday night's extremely slow trip," said a MARC e-mail to riders Aug. 4. After a long recitation of various CSX's lapses leading to long delays and the cancellation of one train, the MARC e-mail concluded: "We are sorry to have brought your weekend to such a poor start."

The same day brought apologies to Camden Line riders for delays caused by CSX work on the tracks between Baltimore and Washington and to Penn Line riders for a series of locomotive breakdowns. MARC's e-mail was careful to note that Amtrak is responsible for maintenance of the locomotives.

The state-run service, a part of the Maryland Transit Administration, depends almost entirely on the good graces of
CSX and Amtrak dispatchers. When the two big railroads' equipment malfunctions, the little commuter railroad's trains run late -- or don't come at all.

With all its problems, many riders say MARC is a terrific bargain and stress-reliever -- at least when it's running on time. But others interviewed on a recent round trip between Baltimore and Washington expressed bitter dissatisfaction.

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