njtmnrrbuff wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:17 am
Most transit agencies should definately be thinking in terms of all day/daily service. MARC is no exception and it shouldn't just happen on the Penn Line. The Brunswick Line could use more service and even a few more stops. I'm not saying stop on every corner but having a stop around Randolph Rd is a good idea as this would enable people who live around Randolph Rd and Montrose Ave in Rockville and parts of Potomac not to have to drive to Downtown Rockville or Kensington. There isn't much parking at Kensington Station as well as Garrett Park. Having a MARC Station at Shady Grove might be a good idea as well-lots of people live around there and there are many offices and retail venues.
Now for MARC to run all day service on the Brunswick Line, it would have to be up to CSX too. In the end, CSX owns the Metropolitan Sub and I believe that it's a very busy stretch of track. We have to wonder if it would be possible for CSX to build a third track on the Met Sub. I believe that in many spots, that may be tough. It might work. There are spots where it would be a matter of removing trees. Yes, the Met Sub does pass along many people's backyards.
Buff: CSX will probably never allow any large expansion of MARC Brunswick Line service.
One of the prime reasons was the head-on collision that occurred February 16, 1996 just west of Silver Spring
between an eastbound MARC reverse commuter train and Amtrak #29 - "Capitol Limited" WAS-CHI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Mary ... _collision
There were 11 fatalities - including all three train crew members of the MARC train.
In the aftermath of this wreck MARC cut back service to Brunswick eliminating any off-peak and reverse
commuter service on the route. With both legs of the U-shaped Metro Red Line serving Montgomery County, MD
there was frequent service alternatives provided to the Rockville/Shady Grove and Glenmont areas already.
On June 19, 1987 there was a CSX freight train wreck on the eastbound Metropolitan Subdivision near Takoma
that not only wripped up some of the paralleling Metro Red Line track - the derailing cars narrowly missed some
buildings that were close to the tracks along the line including houses.
There will have to be some kind of agreement or compromise for any added service between MARC and CSX
that both parties can live with...MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS