It seems that everyone who rides MARC trains gripes about the service. They say it?s late. It?s dirty. The trains don?t run frequently and don?t run on weekends. Trains often are canceled.
Trains run on time 94 percent of the time, according to the most recent statistics from MARC. That compares to an on-time rate that fluctuates between 87 percent and 94 percent over the past five years. That?s not bad. How does that compare to your on-time record when driving?
It?s nearly impossible to predict driving time to Washington because of Beltway traffic, even on weekends. That means, comparatively, taking the train is not a bad deal for commuters from a time perspective.
It makes sense financially, too. At $240 for a monthly all-inclusive pass (Metrorail and bus transfers included) to travel from Baltimore?s Penn Station to Union Station in Washington, it is cheaper than most car payments, let alone gas, maintenance, insurance, tolls and parking.
The nearly 54 percent increase in riders over the past 10 years (even as population declined in Baltimore) shows that people find it convenient. So fundamentally, service provided is close to service advertised.
The problem is the service provided does not meet the standards of a major city.
Many people can?t leave work until 6 or 7 p.m. in this region ? and work weekends. That gives you few options for the way home during the week and none on the weekends ? unless you want to pay $18 each way on Amtrak.
MARC should poll customers to see if adding more service during the week and on weekends makes financial sense.
With more and more people fleeing high D.C.,-home prices for Baltimore, demand for service will only rise. And reliable, convenient service would only make Baltimore more of a destination.
Amenity-wise, Penn Station ranks with a remote satellite station in rural Iowa. Those who know it buy their coffee and sandwiches ahead of time.
But commuters aren?t the only people hurt by MARC?s service. Baltimore is potentially losing thousands of tourists who could easily stay in Baltimore and visit the Capital ? if there was an affordable and convenient means to do so.
Why doesn?t the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Bureau work with area hotels and MARC to promote a Baltimore-Washington vacation package that includes train service on weekends? That would give people a huge reason to “get in on it.”
Numerous reports and geography identify Baltimore as part of the Baltimore-Washington region. We embrace that identity and the financial benefits of it in so many ways. Unfortunately, our train service does not ? yet.
