WAS to BWI

[AC4400]

I'd like to take a train from Washington Union Station to Baltimore International Airport to catch a flight. I'm just wondering which one is better? Amtrak or MARC? Amtrak costs $11 while runs 27 minutes; MARC costs $6, while runs 36 minutes.

Also, what's the frequency of the free shuttle from BWI train station to BWI main terminal? Thanks.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

I would take Amtrak, a few dollars more for a quicker ride is a no brainer if you can find a schedule that fits your timing. Remember to give yourself plenty of time for check in and all of that.

As far as for the tram at BWI, Im not sure on that one.that info should be on the BWI website.

 

[AC4400]

I would take Amtrak, a few dollars more for a quicker ride is a no brainer if you can find a schedule that fits your timing. Remember to give yourself plenty of time for check in and all of that.

As far as for the tram at BWI, Im not sure on that one.that info should be on the BWI website.

Thanks Cajun! Just booked an Amtrak regional train which arrives BWI 2 hours before our flight's departure.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Thats great news, and you are most welcome. Its what the AU family is for, to help each other out!

 

[Ryan]

Shuttles run every 12 minutes:

http://www.bwiairport.com/en/travel/ground-transportation/trans/amtrak

If you can get the low bucket ticket (which you did), take Amtrak. However that changes quickly as the price goes up.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

If it were up to me, I'd take MARC. Trains run more frequently (at least during rush hour), they're cheaper, and there's a risk involved with taking Amtrak. If the Regional you're booked on started in Richmond, it could easily be delayed by CSX in Virginia. MARC trains can have problems, too, but they seem less likely to be delayed than Regionals from Virginia.

The other reason I lean toward MARC is flexibility. A MARC ticket is good for any train. The Amtrak ticket is good only for the train you booked, so if you're late to Union Station (or significantly early), you don't have the flexibility.

 

[rrdude]

Buy an Amtrak ticket if you care about earning AGR points, otherwise, I'd go MARC.

However, you may want to buy an Amtrak ticket, AND a MARC ticket, because as another poster said, occasionally, the Amtrak Regionals can run off-schedule (how'd ya like that, I didn't say "late") and if you have a MARC ticket in your pocket, you can always hop the almost-always-on-time MARC.......

 

[AC4400]

If it were up to me, I'd take MARC. Trains run more frequently (at least during rush hour), they're cheaper, and there's a risk involved with taking Amtrak. If the Regional you're booked on started in Richmond, it could easily be delayed by CSX in Virginia. MARC trains can have problems, too, but they seem less likely to be delayed than Regionals from Virginia.

The other reason I lean toward MARC is flexibility. A MARC ticket is good for any train. The Amtrak ticket is good only for the train you booked, so if you're late to Union Station (or significantly early), you don't have the flexibility.

Just checked, my train #176 originates from Lynchburg, VA. I decided to keep Amtrak's reservation until 2 hours before the departure. Check with 800-872-7245 to see if #176 is running on time, otherwise I'll cancel it and take MARC.

 

[fairviewroad]

Just checked, my train #176 originates from Lynchburg, VA. I decided to keep Amtrak's reservation until 2 hours before the departure. Check with 800-872-7245 to see if #176 is running on time, otherwise I'll cancel it and take MARC.

Won't that mean you'd have to pay the "refund fee" for cancelling less than 24 hours in advance? Or would you just roll it over into an e-voucher.

Of course if the Lynchburg train is running more than an hour late you should be able to cancel with no penalty.

 

[gatelouse]

You'll have much more luggage space on Amtrak. But note that the Virginia Regionals board from a low-level platform.

 

[George Harris]

You'll have much more luggage space on Amtrak. But note that the Virginia Regionals board from a low-level platform.

And that does not mean a platform that is low. It means a platform that is adjacent to a track that is lower. The trains coming in from the south access Washington Union Station through the First Avenue Tunnel, so they enter the station on one of the high number tracks on the east side of the station.

 

[Ryan]

And that does not mean a platform that is low.

Actually it does, there are no high platforms down there.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I would take Amtrak, a few dollars more for a quicker ride is a no brainer if you can find a schedule that fits your timing. Remember to give yourself plenty of time for check in and all of that.

As far as for the tram at BWI, Im not sure on that one.that info should be on the BWI website.

I disagree. I think taking the MARC is better because that is what it's supposed to do. The Amtrak is for longer-distance pax, like those from Virginia. Less cost and I can spare some minutes. JMO.

 

[AlanB]

The Amtrak is for longer-distance pax, like those from Virginia. Less cost and I can spare some minutes. JMO.

If Amtrak were managing to sell 100 or more seats on each train between WAS & BWI, then yes it would become a problem for them. But except for maybe Thanksgiving peak days, there isn't a train out of/into WAS that doesn't have at least a dozen or more empty seats between BWI & WAS.

That seat may have been full north of PHL, or it may well fill when the train gets to PHL if it's going east. But south of PHL there are almost always some empty seats on the trains.

So any local traffic that Amtrak can pick up in that market just means more dollars to cover operating costs.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

The Amtrak is for longer-distance pax, like those from Virginia. Less cost and I can spare some minutes. JMO.

If Amtrak were managing to sell 100 or more seats on each train between WAS & BWI, then yes it would become a problem for them. But except for maybe Thanksgiving peak days, there isn't a train out of/into WAS that doesn't have at least a dozen or more empty seats between BWI & WAS.

That seat may have been full north of PHL, or it may well fill when the train gets to PHL if it's going east. But south of PHL there are almost always some empty seats on the trains.

So any local traffic that Amtrak can pick up in that market just means more dollars to cover operating costs.

Yes, that's right.

Remember, that Amtrak has to have seats based on the max load point, which I would guess is the North River Tunnels. Since trains (and subways and buses) aren't generally full when they leave their suburban terminals, they have empty seats. Not because they don't have good ridership, but because those seats (and standing room) gets taken at the max load point, and the train/bus/whatever has that capacity for its entire run.

So if Regional #ABC is going to be full between NWK and NYP, but not between WAS and BAL, a rider going from NCR to BWI is not taking a seat from the max load point, but is contributing revenue to the system. So it's a good thing, as long as they are in fact not taking a seat from a higher paying customer (as someone riding just from NWK to NYP would be doing).

 

[fairviewroad]

Remember, that Amtrak has to have seats based on the max load point, which I would guess is the North River Tunnels.

Interesting question. Does anyone know the answer to what is the max load point on the NEC between NYP and WAS (let's say for Regional and Acela trains only...a LD train

would not have the same loading patterns, and a Keystone train does not run the full distance)

I would guess it might be south of NWK, not the North River Tunnels. Perhaps between Metropark and Newark Airport?

 

[afigg]

So if Regional #ABC is going to be full between NWK and NYP, but not between WAS and BAL, a rider going from NCR to BWI is not taking a seat from the max load point, but is contributing revenue to the system. So it's a good thing, as long as they are in fact not taking a seat from a higher paying customer (as someone riding just from NWK to NYP would be doing).

I have taken many trips on Amtrak between WAS and NYP/PHL in the past several years. I have never seen the Regional or Acela full between BWI and WAS. Heading north, the trains pick up passengers in BAL, WIL, and may get sold-out between PHL and NYP. Southbound, the crowd thins out after PHL and WIL. The seats that Amtrak sells for BWI-WAS and BAL-WAS trips are often re-used for BAL to NYP/BOS traffic. The business from those 2 station pairs complement the traffic load patterns on the NEC and makes for a nice revenue stream for Amtrak. If/when MARC goes to 7 days a week, Amtrak will lose some revenue for BAL/BWI-WAS travel.

Looking up the weekday schedules, MARC has 26 southbound trains to WAS stopping at BWI and Amtrak has 31. 57 daily trains on weekdays is pretty good coverage, although the MARC trains are rather clustered around morning and late afternoon peak commuter periods. Also the Acela trains are too expensive for a 30 minute trip. Weekends are a different matter with 22 BWI-WAS Amtrak trains on Saturdays and 27 on Sundays.

An alternative is the WMATA B30 bus ($6) which departs every 40 minutes from BWI to the Greenbelt Metro station. Not the fastest way to get to DC with the bus taking 30+ minutes to Greenbelt, then the connection time at Greenbelt and the travel time on the DC Metro from Greenbelt to the Metro stations in the city core. But it will get people from BWI to DC and Union Station.

 

[AlanB]

Remember, that Amtrak has to have seats based on the max load point, which I would guess is the North River Tunnels.

Interesting question. Does anyone know the answer to what is the max load point on the NEC between NYP and WAS (let's say for Regional and Acela trains only...a LD train

would not have the same loading patterns, and a Keystone train does not run the full distance)

I would guess it might be south of NWK, not the North River Tunnels. Perhaps between Metropark and Newark Airport?

Were I to guess, and that's what I'm doing, I'd say that the max load point for Acela is MET-PHL. It's probably the same with a regional, but I'm not so sure as I don't ride Regionals very often. I could see it being NWK-MET, as opposed to MET-TRE.

 

[MARC Rider]

There are a couple of points to consider:

MARC trains, especially the bi-level cars, are not set up for baggage storage. Thus, you'll either have to take up a seat with the bag or have it sit in the aisle, probably not good from a safety standpoint.

MARC Penn Line trains that depart Washington between, say, 4 PM and 6:30 PM will be very full. (The 5:20 I usually take, in fact, is a collection of rolling sardine cans, though it does run nonstop between WAS and BWI.) The regular passengers (i.e. commuters) don't really appreciate adding baggage to the crowded conditions.

I usually will book an Amtrak If I'm leaving from the office and flying out of BWI. I also ride Amtrak home to Baltimore if I'm working late, because after 6:40, MARC trains are pretty infrequent, and I also like to earn AGR points on my $16 - $22 fare. It costs a bit, but it's what got me my select-plus status.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The Amtrak is for longer-distance pax, like those from Virginia. Less cost and I can spare some minutes. JMO.

If Amtrak were managing to sell 100 or more seats on each train between WAS & BWI, then yes it would become a problem for them. But except for maybe Thanksgiving peak days, there isn't a train out of/into WAS that doesn't have at least a dozen or more empty seats between BWI & WAS.

That seat may have been full north of PHL, or it may well fill when the train gets to PHL if it's going east. But south of PHL there are almost always some empty seats on the trains.

So any local traffic that Amtrak can pick up in that market just means more dollars to cover operating costs.

But that dosen''t mean I should pay extra just to fill the seats on Amtrak, and I've always wanted to leave the seats for through pax as a courtesy, theyy need the seats more than I do. Extra space for them, less expense for me.

 

[AlanB]

The Amtrak is for longer-distance pax, like those from Virginia. Less cost and I can spare some minutes. JMO.

If Amtrak were managing to sell 100 or more seats on each train between WAS & BWI, then yes it would become a problem for them. But except for maybe Thanksgiving peak days, there isn't a train out of/into WAS that doesn't have at least a dozen or more empty seats between BWI & WAS.

That seat may have been full north of PHL, or it may well fill when the train gets to PHL if it's going east. But south of PHL there are almost always some empty seats on the trains.

So any local traffic that Amtrak can pick up in that market just means more dollars to cover operating costs.

But that dosen''t mean I should pay extra just to fill the seats on Amtrak, and I've always wanted to leave the seats for through pax as a courtesy, theyy need the seats more than I do. Extra space for them, less expense for me.

You are certainly within your rights to decide not to pay the higher price for Amtrak. But again, you aren't leaving any through seats for other passengers. Amtrak cannot fill all those through seats no matter what it does. That seat that you could have been in will go empty if you're not in it. No NEC train even approaches a sold out condition between WAS & BWI.

Now if you were in Trenton, NJ and decided to board an NJT to NY Penn, then you could pat yourself on the back for leaving seats available for through passengers.