Hello! In this video I take the rare non-stop express MARC service from Washington Union Station to Baltimore Penn Station! The service only runs 5 times per week (total!) *sometimes
@@chineselemonkitty717 I thought they ran this route because they needed the train in Baltimore for another route and they needed to move it from Washington. Instead of moving it empty they offer it as a service so the train can run the rest of its route the rest of the day starting in Baltimore.
@@chineselemonkitty717in the Washington-bound direction there are many people wanting to get on at intermediate stations, especially BWI, so it doesn’t make sense to skip them. For this trip they just want to get the train back to Baltimore as quick as possible to make another Washington-bound trip.
This train probably goes back and does a second trip to DC, so, instead of running it lite, it does the xpress to get it back for the next train. makes sense, one train set and crew used twice. good resource and can generate some income.
Ah the elusive HHP 8! Unfortunately this express service only runs in the opposite-commute direction! I always see this set pull in at Baltimore Penn while waiting for the NE 111.
I'm guessing the purpose of the express is to hurry up to Bmore to pick up another load of morning commuters. The weekday usage of MARC Penn is mostly for Bmore-to-DC commuters. It would be awesome to have express service on weekends to help promote Baltimore as a tourist destination.
BTW the "cool lights" by the doors indicate whether you can bring your bike in that entrance. Green means there are bike racks (or the folding seats you can lean a bike against).
Love this train, it has allowed me to get from Brunswick, MD To Baltimore in 2 hours flat. You got lucky with the HHP-8, most of the time the loco is a diesel which can only get up to 90 mph on the nec
I love that MARC runs this service, I’ll have to try it out some time! It may be a hot take, but if I have the time, I actually prefer the Camden Line over the Penn Line. It’s more scenic and has much better transit connections in Baltimore.
That sign asking employees not to enter and use the other gates was for an event that Amtrak hosted in that waiting area some months ago. They just never put the sign away.
Long time MARC rider here. 408 is the "shotgun express" because it has to make it up to Baltimore to turn for a return trip back down (421 if I remember). It skips past 406 (which was a diesel based turn off a Brunswick line train, and is all local).
I really love your channel but as a Acela hippo lover (what some of us called the HHP-8 because it’s the dual cab variant of the Acela power cars) I kinda got secondhand embarrassment, but it’s no biggie. You should come back so I could show you around our system.
I am planning a side trip to B'more while in DC this September. Does MARC run service between the two cities (not express) on the weekend? I'd love to ride it!
@@nathantransitj Ah okay, I see six routes a day on the weekend with only about 1 hour of travel time. Sounds like I might have the train all to myself!
I like the Penn line trains because they go really fast, well some of them do but I railfan at seabrook sometimes which is also a Penn line station. I also catch Amtrak Acela trains there to.
As noted earlier it originally was a deadhead run to get the train back to Baltimore in time to bring more passengers to Washington DC. It benefits MARC in that even with a few passengers it helps cover costs that in the past were it was only an expense. It also helps those few passengers commuting to Baltimore with a fast service.
I don't know that it's any faster but certainly the MARC is significantly less expensive than Amtrak when you can get service (service reduced on the weekend).
Surprisingly, if you buy Amtrak on the day of travel, prices can get as low as $7, cheaper than MARC! Usually you can find a train for $9 but this is not guaranteed.
