MARC Train appreciates your continued patience with the first days of operation of the new Penn Line schedule. While morning service is operating very well, we recognize that there are challenges in the afternoon and are working to address them. MARC Train and Amtrak management are actively engaged and have managers at key stations to monitor service.  

As stated yesterday, we recognize that Train 634 (4:57pm departure from Union Station) is a very crowded train. An additional railcar is now operating on this train, however we cannot add any more cars beyond this extra car. Passengers have asked why this train cannot depart earlier.  The fact is that due to the trackwork, no MARC Penn Line trains can depart Union Station between 4:25pm and 4:57pm.  This is because there is no way for Amtrak Acela Express and Regional trains to pass MARC trains between Washington and Odenton. The gap between Train 440 (5:28pm) and 642 (5:57pm) is for the same reason.

--Passengers on Train 634 traveling from Union Station to Odenton are strongly encouraged and requested to wait 15 minutes for Train 536 (5:12pm departure).  Train 536 arrives at Odenton just 9 minutes after Train 634, operates non-stop from Washington to Odenton, and has ample available seating.  By switching to Train 536, Odenton passengers will provide adequate space on Train 634 for passengers who do not have other options and would have to wait between 45 minutes and an hour for the next train to their station.

--Passengers traveling on Train 634 to BWI, Halethorpe, Penn Station, and Martin Airport are requested to ride in the first four cars at the front of the train (the cars directly behind the locomotive) in order to provide adequate space for passengers traveling to Seabrook and Bowie State University, who must ride in the last three cars of the train (the three cars closest to the station in Washington) due to short platforms.

--Bowie State University passengers should note that Train 438 (the 5:25pm departure) now operates non-stop from Union Station to Bowie. Passengers for BWI and Halethorpe are requested to ride in the first four cars at the front of the train (the cars directly behind the locomotive) in order to accommodate Bowie State University passengers, who must ride in the last three cars of the train due to the short platform.  We understand that there was confusion yesterday on Train 438 and have verified with Amtrak that Bowie State passengers should be in rear of the train.

Again, MARC Train and Amtrak management are actively engaged and will consider further adjustments as needed. We appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you for riding MARC Train.

MARC Train appreciates your patience with the first day of operation of the new Penn Line schedule.  The first several days of a new schedule require adjustment by not only passengers but train operating crews and railroad dispatchers.  

MARC recognizes that Train 634 (4:57pm departure from Union Station) is a very crowded train.  An additional railcar is now operating on this train, however we cannot add any more cars beyond this extra car.  It is not possible for the train to depart at its former time of 4:40pm as the Amtrak trackwork affects MARC and Amtrak departure times from Washington and the Amtrak trains cannot pass MARC trains between Washington and Odenton.

To ensure that passengers who do not have other travel options are accommodated on Train 634, we ask that:

--Passengers traveling to Odenton wait 15 minutes for Train 536 (5:12pm departure), which is now a non-stop train from Washington to Odenton.  There is ample available seating on Train 536.

--Passengers traveling on Train 634 to BWI, Halethorpe, Penn Station, and Martin Airport are requested to ride in the first four cars in order to provide adequate space for passengers traveling to Seabrook and Bowie State University, who must ride in the last three cars of the train due to the shorter platforms.

--Bowie State University passengers should note that Train 438 (the 5:25pm departure) now operates non-stop from Union Station to Bowie.  Passengers for BWI and Halethorpe are requested to ride in the first four cars of the train in order to accommodate Bowie State University passengers, who must ride in the last three cars of the train due to the short platform.

MARC Train and Amtrak management are actively engaged in both the morning and afternoon rush hours and have managers at key stations to monitor service and will make further adjustments as needed.  Again, we appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you for riding MARC Train.

Thank you for riding MARC Train.

We'd like to take a moment to thank the campus community for the support over the last year!

The Retriever Essentials program has made significant strides in addressing hunger and homeless among our UMBC students. Last semester 100 bags of groceries were packed and delivered, an almost 100% increase from the previous academic year. Save a Swipe collected 280 meals and helped feed 23 students while they were on campus, and this semester students donated 375 meals to the program--we are so grateful for the ability to feed even more students through Save a Swipe this semester.

This success is attributed to you, the UMBC community, as you have stepped up and donated your time, energy and resources. 

Yet, as time progresses we are discovering more students in need. Retriever Essentials is currently working toward sustainable methods to support them but we need your help!

You can continue to support these efforts by donating on Giving Day 2019, which is today! Our goal is to raise a significant amount of funds to cover food, toiletries, as well as a fully functional on-campus food pantry. 

Please take some time to donate and spread this message. We can only eliminate this problem together. Join the #blackandgoldrush by giving to Retriever Essentials today!