Passenger Trains > MARC expansion: Could this really happen?

A new plan has been publicized about MARC's plans for expansion. More frequent service on all lines, plus new service to Wilmington, DE, Cumberland MD, Hagerstown MD, and Alexandria VA. Could this all come about? Would CSX, VRE,  and Amtrak agree?  Lots to think about.

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/transportation/marc-train-mta-transit-commute-GNDSYK7AHNA7HARKNB36M4E33M/

B&OBill  (I do not know if there is a paywall)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/25 07:28 by bandob.

Here's a link to the actual plan, not just the story about it.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/mta-website-staging/mta-website-staging/files/MARC%20Growth/Plan%20Release%200625/MARC%20Growth%20Plan_Final%20Report_20250624_red.pdf

B&OBill

it is possible, they multiple satellite refueling yards, 
 but the state don't have the money at present.

That's a nice map with "future unconstrained growth" modeling.  Among the ignored constraints would be West Virginia's reluctance to pay for service to Martinsburg, much less to Cumberland.  West Virginia is going to be in for a whole lot of hurt in the next few years.

One question I've had is whether there's a market for passenger service from Baltimore to Point of Rocks, and maybe on to Brunswick. It would seem that that could work.

Of course, Maryland's transportation budget is deep underwater after Larry Hogan's toll roads, I-270,  Purple Line mess etc

Not worth talking about service to Cumberland at this time.  The Executive Summary says that expansion would only occur in the "2041 and beyond" time frame.

Hakk

I see little appetite in WV for expansion of MARC service.  

It's a shame; but the people overwhelming the eastern panhandle's current population are tax refugees from Maryland.  We note the current state governor falls into this category, even after living in the state as long as he has.  The population already there views commuter rail as an evil foisted upon people by big-government types who view tax dollars as "their money."  I get the impression they view more commuter rail equals more people, which means denser housing, which means their lifestyle changes.

Several western Maryland counties already are miffed at Annapolis, and have started making noises about becoming part of West Virginia.  This adds to my skepticism concerning any expansion of service to Cumberland, though as an interstate passenger rail enthusiast, I'd love it.

(Never mind the B & O's Washington, D.C. commuter district went from DC to Martinsburg for decades.)

The really gutsy move would be for MARC to start express service to and from Cumberland -- no stops in Dub-Vee --  to make people start asking annoying questions.  The odds of that happening approximate the odds of you or me hitting the main Powerball jackpot Real Soon Now.

KurtBWNews Wrote:

> The really gutsy move would be for MARC to start
> express service to and from Cumberland -- no stops
> in Dub-Vee --  to make people start asking
> annoying questions.  The odds of that happening
> approximate the odds of you or me hitting the main
> Powerball jackpot Real Soon Now.

Say this starts sometime around  2040; who would ride it? Who would ride it now?
Western Maryland  is bleeding jobs and population now. In 15 years all that will be there will be food and service jobs for the interstate, retirees, and a few remote workers.
There has been no real effort from the state to replace the 1,000 jobs lost from the Luke paper mill and Hunter-Douglas closing. The Governor who wants to be President wants it that way...
Even Frostburg State University is laying off and freezing hiring because of a 35% loss in enrollment over the last decade.
The recent Georges Creek flooding damaged or destroyed 100s of housing units, in an area where is little new housing stock. Ironically in Frostburg, there are blocks of vacant older homes because of the drastic decline in enrollment.
I can just see CSX demanding MARC rebuild the Low Line to bypass the Magnolia Cutoff, just like the passenger trains did in B&O days...

Overall the MARC expansion plan is very interesting. The Penn Line definately can use better service as well as the Brunswick Line. However, I don't really know if MARC should be extended west of Martinsburg to Cumberland. It might be faster to drive from DC to Cumberland over taking Amtrak. I can only imagine the even slower trip times that a MARC commuter train would produce from DC to Cumberland. It would be nice to see daily MARC train options to Martinsburg, Duffields, and Harpers Ferry just like the suburban and exurbian towns in Maryland. A lot of DC, Silver Spring, and Rockville residents doing recreational activities in Harpers Ferry, Duffields, and Martinsburg would benefit from taking a train to those towns on the weekend. 

bigsavage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Say this starts sometime around  2040; who would
> ride it? Who would ride it now?
> Western Maryland  is bleeding jobs and population
> now. In 15 years all that will be there will be
> food and service jobs for the interstate,
> retirees, and a few remote workers.
> There has been no real effort from the state to
> replace the 1,000 jobs lost from the Luke paper
> mill and Hunter-Douglas closing. The Governor who
> wants to be President wants it that way...
> Even Frostburg State University is laying off and
> freezing hiring because of a 35% loss in
> enrollment over the last decade.
> The recent Georges Creek flooding damaged or
> destroyed 100s of housing units, in an area where
> is little new housing stock. Ironically in
> Frostburg, there are blocks of vacant older homes
> because of the drastic decline in enrollment.
> I can just see CSX demanding MARC rebuild the Low
> Line to bypass the Magnolia Cutoff, just like the
> passenger trains did in B&O days...

Replace Cumberland with Mach Chunk (aka Jim Thopre) and you'll get your answer regarding who might live and work there. The entire Potomac corridor was a lot of room to grow regarding recreational activities and as the DC Metro becomes increasingly uncomfortable in the summers I'd expect the Cumberland area to attract an increasing number of full time residents.  Right now folks in Scranton are terrified about the proposed rail service exploding demand in their valley for NYC-oriented workers. Cumberland is in the exact same position for Balt-Wash.