Baltimore Travel Forum

I was looking at a day (week day) trip from Baltimore to Wash. DC. I see that there are 2 MARC train lines. The Penn Station one seems to have more times. However, the Camden Line schedule says it stops at Washington Union Station whereas the Penn Line stop simply says Washington? Does anyone know for sure if that's Union Station too or where the Penn Line does stop in Washington? Also, how easy is it to find your way around Union Station? Are there signs to follow to get to where they sell the MARC tickets and signs that are easy to follow to find the MARC trains from there?

The Penn Line also stops at Union Station - see the fine print in the middle of the page at http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/schedulesSystemMaps/penn.cfm

According to the Union Station website, the ticket offices will be easy to find:
"MARC Train
(800) 325-7245
Street Level"
I can't remember if I've done this myself (no, I think I bought the tickets online or something).

I will note the interesting discsssion at the MARC website about which tracks are used at Union Station: "Why does my train come in so far out from the station at Washington?

During the day MARC has 13 trains at Union Station on the upper level. Because there is insufficient storage in Washington, two trains are moved to Baltimore's Penn Station for storage and return in the afternoon. Generally MARC trains use only 8 station tracks (Amtrak uses the remaining tracks for their own operation) and one track in the small storage yard at the north end of the station. Of the 8 station tracks used by MARC, 4 of them do not have high-level platforms. Penn Line trains using electric locomotives cannot operate on tracks 7, 8 or 9. Therefore, it is a physical impossibility to have the MARC passenger's ideal location, a high level platform at the bumper post close to the station exit, for every train. Invariably some trains must be "stacked" on top of another train causing a long walk. Unfortunately tracks 15 and 16 are among the longest available tracks and have low-level platforms as well making them the least favorite of our passengers.

The placement of trains varies from day to day. Since MARC has no separate maintenance facility, all work on cars is generally done on the platforms at Washington. Each train must periodically be placed on track 16, the only track with a below ground train pit which allows inspection of the undercarriage of the car. Different trains may get held in Washington to fix a problem thus changing the placement of trains. Diesel locomotives are maintained by CSX in Baltimore so trains from the Brunswick Line may wind up going to Camden station on any given day, thus requiring further shuffling.

Arrival time does not guarantee the ideal track. For example, smaller Brunswick and Camden trains may operate on the Penn Line during the middle of the day while Penn Line locomotives are serviced. As a result early arrivals such as train 870 from Brunswick are placed on short low level tracks where they won't get "buried" by later arriving trains. During the rush hour an open track may be held for an Amtrak train arriving later in the morning from New York or Boston. It doesn't seem to make sense to the passenger who arrives early in the rush hour and sees open tracks elsewhere in the station, but it's a necessary step to keep the station functioning efficiently."
See http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/faq/

Bill

Zaster, where in Baltimore are you leaving from? I can give you some timesaving pointers.

I took the train from Baltimore Penn Station to DC Union Station every day for eight grueling years.

Here's the deal:
No matter where you are in Baltimore, go on the Penn Line from Penn Station or the West Baltimore stop. If you're further out in the 'burbs, where find the Penn line stop there.

Do not take the Camden Line. It makes an awful number of stops in the middle of nowhere, and it runs of the CSX line and not the Amtrak line that the Penn runs on. Trains carrying a load of coal on the CSX line have the right of way, and they are way slower than Amtrak trains, which has right of way on the Penn line.

You can buy tix at the counter, or from a machine. If you're running late, you can buy them for $3 more on the train. (Or at least you could 2 years ago. This is not the case if you're taking Amtrak.)

Union Station is very user friendly. You can get to the MARC trains either by the entrance near Waldenbooks, or that pizza place, Srrabos or whatever....

Thanks. I was looking at the pdf schedule only. I do see from your link where it says specifically "Union Station."

lcat61, we'll be staying at the Pier 5 hotel, Inner Harbor. I'd take a cab to Penn Station.

Thanks Ellielou, I was looking at the Penn Line anyway, because of more stops, but after reading what you wrote, I'll definitely take it now. How bad is what the one guy wrote about? How far away from Union Station does the MARC train let you off?
Also, you can get to the MARC trains is by Walden Books or Sbarros pizza. Are the ticket counters right there (same place) too or is that elsewhere in Union Station ?

The ticket counters aren't there, but are closer to the entrance to Union Station. But, if you're coming from Penn Station, just buy a roundtrip tkt, and you can just hop on the train.

Sometimes the trains pile up, usually around the trains at 4 or 5 o'clock when people start heading home from work. I don't think that in eight years, I've ever had to walk more than two train lengths.

It's really simple, and I wouldn't worry about this one bit.

Also, if there's a line at the tix counter, just try to buy your tix from the machines around...although they seem to be confusing for first time usere.

I guess what I'm saying is that they always let you off at Union Station, but it's not like it's right next to the door....

Thanks ellielou. I'm printing these tips/nfo out on an index card. If you buy a round trip ticket, are you locked into that specific return time, or is it open ended to where you could use it on any scheduled MARC train for the return trip?

You won't be locked into any specific return times with a RT ticket. The last train leaves for Balto at 10:45pm, arriving Penn Station at 11:40 pm. Use your ticket for any return train. Avoid the rush hour trains. They are full of grumpy commuters and are usually standing room only.
At Union Station, depart and board on the lower level. Just watch the electronic signs for train status and gate info. There is a terrific food court there too. You can eat there or take your meal on the train. Bookstores and pizza are on the lower level too. Just roam around. You will love it! They did a terrific job on the station.
Don't miss the grand rotunda on the main level. There are usually some neat travelling exhibits (ex-presidents, art, etc). Subway entrance is on the lower level. Probably best to buy a day pass. It provies unlimited use.

BTW - if buying a Metro day pass, it will be vaild only after 9:30 am weekdays. Good until the system closes for the day (Midnight I think?).

The ONLY good thing about taking a rush hour train home, is that there are several that are express....other than that, it's crowded with very weary folks! Take it from me, I was one of them!

Thanks for the added info! We'll purchase the round trip tickets then. One other Union Station question. From the train schedule, I can see the train numbers that are supposed to show up at given times. lcat61, you said to look at the electonic signs for train status and gate nfo. How does that work? When you exit to where the tracks/trains are (for boarding) are there numbered gates that you exit through that will take you right to the train number you want (assuming you're there at the scheduled time)? Also, how accurate are the schedules as far as the train numbers? Do they ever change the train numbers, and if so, would those electronic signs tell of the change?

About the METRO and getting a day pass. I have ridden a subway in other cities where turn style machines take your ticket on entry. With the day pass on Washington's METRO, is there a turn style machine that will take the day pass but then give it back to you as it's good for all day? Also, is there a vendor in either Penn Station or Union Station that sells these day passes for the METRO?

Also, looking at a METRO map, it looks like we'd have to take the red line but then switch to the yellow line to get to some of the places we want. Would we get off at the Gallery Pl/China Town stop and then find the yellow line there? That's the way it looks on the map but I want to be sure.

One other thing, with the talk about rush hour, when is it there? Where we live rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:00 but I know it can vary in different places.

Don't worry about getting to the correct train. Just go to the gate specified on the electronic board. There are Amtrak employees on the platforms to help if you have a question.
For Metro, buy your day pass from the vending machines in the station. Credit cards accepted. The turnstile will return your day pass each time you insert it. BTW-you will have to insert your day pass when exiting the system also. This is how the system keeps track of where you enter and where you leave. Prevents bums from riding all day with a single-trip ticket.
Avoid Metro Center stop, use Gallery Place if possible. Use Yellow Line if possible, it is the least used of the lines.
Rush hour is 3-7 PM. The fares are higher during that time, making the day pass even more attractive. You can use your day pass after 9:30 am weekdays and anytime weekends/holidays.

Thanks! You've answered all my questions and I'm going to give it a try :)