Passenger Trains > MARC ticket sales by Amtrak agents to end

Effective Tuesday, December 1, 2020, MARC Train tickets will no longer be available for purchase from Amtrak ticket agents.

-MARC

GenePoon Wrote:
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> Effective Tuesday, December 1, 2020, MARC Train
> tickets will no longer be available for purchase
> from Amtrak ticket agents.
>
> -MARC

So for context, Amtrak doesn't do anything for "free." So what was the contractual relationship between MARC and Amtrak regarding these "sales" and what was negotiated to change?

Presumably, MARC is looking to simplify operations and reduce liability it may owe to Amtrak??? Amtrak still provides MARC's NEC commuter operations. 

Will the Quick Trak machines still sell them? If not, what's the new outlet?

When going from BWI to Union Station on MARC i use the app to get my MARC tickets on my phone outs faster than standing in line for Amtrak. Have not made the trips since MArch due to COVID-19 but used to go about every 2 months it was cheaper to fly into BWI and stay at one of the hotels near BWI than in DC and then use Metro to get to meetings in DC with Metro Card its called Charm Pass :https://www.mta.maryland.gov/charmpass



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/20 22:09 by cctgm.

Does MARC have its own agents or TVM's in Washington Union Staion ? 

The NJ Transit agent in New Brunswick NJ sold Amtrak tickets for the one or two Amtrak trains which stopped there each day.  I'm guessing there's a formula in which Amtrak pays NJT for selling the tickets.

I don't recall whether there are separate Amtrak and NJT ticket agents at MetroPark, a bigger station with more Amtrak trains stopping.

I believe it’s NJT agents at Metropark selling Amtrak tickets.

Posted from iPhone

lordsigma Wrote:
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> I believe it’s NJT agents at Metropark selling
> Amtrak tickets.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Thanks. I wasn't sure about that. Many years ago, Amtrak had its own window.

Posted from Android

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> Will the Quick Trak machines still sell them? If
> not, what's the new outlet?

MARC recently purchased its own Ticket Vending Machines and installed them in most stations.  I don't think MARC tickets have been available from QuickTracks for some time. 

I suspect that in stations like BWI and Baltimore Penn MARC will either have their own agent or simply make all ticket purchases through the machines.