BWI-DC Quandry

[Rlschur]

Hi everyone. Been lurking a while, but now have an Amtrak query and am hoping someone can help. I'm landing at BWI Wednesday night at 10PM and need to get to DC but MARC doesn't run at that hour. Amtrak does run but I have a few questions.

1. If I buy a ticket on the NE Regional, can I get it refunded after the departure time if my flight were to be cancelled?

2. The Vermonter (55) arrives just ten minutes before I land and is seems to often run late. If I held a ticket a train departing after 55 but 55 showed up first, could I take 55? Would I have to refund my ticket and buy a new one? Could I just exchange my ticket? It looks like the bucket system doesn't apply to the BWI-WAS run as the price is always $14, no matter what day I search.

3. The ticketing hours for both in-person and QuikTrak at BWI end at 10:45. What happens if my flight is late but I get there in time to take the NE Regional that leaves around midnight? Can I buy a ticket from the conductor onboard?

Better yet, does anybody have an easy, economical way to get from BWI to DC? I am loathe to attempt taking a bus to the Metro because then it will take me almost two hours to reach my destination.

Thanks!

 

[Ryan]

1. I'm pretty sure that as long as you've printed your ticket, you'll be able to turn it in for credit. If you haven't ticketed it, I'm not sure what happens.

2. It's worth a shot. The bucket system is very much in effect BWI-WAS, I've paid far more than that on occasion.

3. I'd have a ticket in hand before you get on the plane to be safe.

3a. Sorry, no help - I live about 10 minutes from the airport, so I've not been worried about that before.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

I'll recommend the B30 bus. The last bus of the evening leaves BWI at 10:50. It will get you to Greenbelt station in under 30 minutes, and the Green Line should get you downtown in 20 minutes or so.

I take the B30 most of the time I need to get to BWI, and I've never had any problems. You don't have to worry about the infrequent Amtrak/MARC shuttle or any of the other questions you've brought up.

 

[Acela150]

Is there any reason why 55? 55 is running late this summer simply because it's busing between SAB and SPG. That busing ends in September. There are trains from BWI at 1051 (2173 AE) 1054 (175 NER) 1152 (187 NER) and if worse comes to to worse 1252 (177 NER). The station does close at 1045 but keep in mind that something must be unlocked so passengers can catch those trains. give Amtrak a call about that. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rlschur]

Thanks for the responses so far. I'm looking at 55 because I think it has a good shot to be late but earlier than the NE Regional at 10:54. Also, I don't live anywhere near an Amtrak station. Since my trip is Wednesday, how can I get a hard ticket in hand? Either way, am I best off making the reservation now?

 

[PRR 60]

Given the time of night, I would consider using the SuperShuttle van from BWI to DC. It's not cheap ($37), but it might be better than relying on late night service on the NEC.

 

[Acela150]

I think PRR 60's advice might be the best bet. Like I said in my last post something must be unlocked. But if it's not you're in some trouble! I'd say it might be worth that $37 for a 45 minute ride or so.

 

[Ana]

I've done the train to Union Station in the early evening. At the time you'll be traveling, I'd go for the shuttle, straight from the airport terminal. To get the train you need to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the station, so it's not like you're right there and that could add an extra delay. And it's a small, pretty isolated, outdoor station IIRC, I think I'd find it creepy late at night if I had to wait there for any length of time (I say this as a youngish female, if you're a burly guy that might not be a concern!)

 

[Ryan]

There isn't anything that needs to be unlocked to get access to the tracks, but I don't think that you'll be able to get a ticket after the station closes.

What is your final destination? T29's suggestion to take the B30 was a good one. Cheap and effective.

 

[Rlschur]

Final destination is Arlington, VA. Google maps says I won't get there until 12:19 A.M. I guess it's pretty much a wash then with the NE Regional times, right?

 

[afigg]

Final destination is Arlington, VA. Google maps says I won't get there until 12:19 A.M. I guess it's pretty much a wash then with the NE Regional times, right?

One note of warning. The DC Metro system closes at midnight on weekdays. Midnight is the nominal time, the actual time is when the last train passes through or leaves the station. The WMATA B30 bus that was suggested with the last bus leaving BWI at 10:50 PM is obviously timed to get to the Greenbelt station before the last Metro train for the day departs at 11:30 PM, which gets to L'Enfant plaza at 11:58 PM. Which looks to just barely connect to the last Orange Line train headed west to Rosslyn, Ballston, Vienna.

If your flight gets in late or if you have checked baggage, you won't have much margin for error if you are using the DC Metro to get to Arlington. The BWI Airport station is not at the airport terminals, you have to take a shuttle bus from the terminal to the train station. Which adds X minutes to the connection.

However, if the southbound Amtrak train - Regional or Acela - is on time when it gets to BWI airport, it will likely get to Union Station in DC a few minutes early because they only drop passengers off at New Carrollton. Which would give you a little more margin to catch a Red Line train from Union Station to Metro Center to connect to the Orange Line if that is how you plan to get to Arlington. Good luck.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

Final destination is Arlington, VA. Google maps says I won't get there until 12:19 A.M. I guess it's pretty much a wash then with the NE Regional times, right?

One note of warning. The DC Metro system closes at midnight on weekdays. Midnight is the nominal time, the actual time is when the last train passes through or leaves the station. The WMATA B30 bus that was suggested with the last bus leaving BWI at 10:50 PM is obviously timed to get to the Greenbelt station before the last Metro train for the day departs at 11:30 PM, which gets to L'Enfant plaza at 11:58 PM. Which looks to just barely connect to the last Orange Line train headed west to Rosslyn, Ballston, Vienna.

If your flight gets in late or if you have checked baggage, you won't have much margin for error if you are using the DC Metro to get to Arlington. The BWI Airport station is not at the airport terminals, you have to take a shuttle bus from the terminal to the train station. Which adds X minutes to the connection.

However, if the southbound Amtrak train - Regional or Acela - is on time when it gets to BWI airport, it will likely get to Union Station in DC a few minutes early because they only drop passengers off at New Carrollton. Which would give you a little more margin to catch a Red Line train from Union Station to Metro Center to connect to the Orange Line if that is how you plan to get to Arlington. Good luck.

You can also connect to the Orange Line directly at New Carrollton (assuming you're going to the northern part of Arlington).

 

[had8ley]

Given the time of night, I would consider using the SuperShuttle van from BWI to DC. It's not cheap ($37), but it might be better than relying on late night service on the NEC.

What time does the very inexpensive Marc train stop running?

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I'll recommend the B30 bus. The last bus of the evening leaves BWI at 10:50. It will get you to Greenbelt station in under 30 minutes, and the Green Line should get you downtown in 20 minutes or so.

I take the B30 most of the time I need to get to BWI, and I've never had any problems. You don't have to worry about the infrequent Amtrak/MARC shuttle or any of the other questions you've brought up.

I too have taken the B30 Metrobus on several occasions and it has always been cheap ($6.00 exact change o/w to the Greenbelt Metro station), reliable and fast. It picks you up right in front of the terminal too. (The Metrorail fare from the Grennbelt station to downtown will be about another $3.00 for a total fare of less than $10.00) No need to buy a ticket in advance either.

Here is a link to its schedule: http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/b30.pdf

EDIT: afigg is right on about the Metrorail connection timing. You'd have one minute to make the transfer. Too close for comfort IMO.

 

[Ryan]

Given the time of night, I would consider using the SuperShuttle van from BWI to DC. It's not cheap ($37), but it might be better than relying on late night service on the NEC.

What time does the very inexpensive Marc train stop running?

Last train leaves BWI headed south at 9:21. The same set then makes one final trip north, leaving DC at 10:30, passing through BWI at 11:06 and arriving at Baltimore Penn at 11:29.

 

[the_traveler]

The station does close at 1045 but keep in mind that something must be unlocked so passengers can catch those trains.

True, the "station building" closes and is locked, but it is off to the side of the walkway between the platform and the parking garage. (BTW: I took a {late} train from BAL to BWI in May that did not arrive until after midnight.)

The ticket counter and QT machines are inside the station.