Patrick Stakem

Marc Patrick Stakem

MARC is the Maryland Rail Commuter service, operating in the Baltimore/Washington area. MARC began operating in 1974. MARC trains are operated by Amtrak on the Penn Line, and CSX Transportation on the Camden and Brunswick Lines under contract to the Mass Transit Administration (MTA) of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The MTA acquired control of MARC, Maryland's commuter rail system, under legislation by the Maryland General Assembly in 1992. MARC had been providing service throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area for 18 years at that time. The Maryland Department of Transportation has broader responsibilities than commuter rail; it oversees bus and subway systems, roads, airports, and the Port of Baltimore. Besides giving the history of MARC and the details of its stations and equipment, this book is designed as a ride-along guide that you can take with you, whether on your daily commute, or using the MARC rail to explore sections of the great cities it serves. The stations are presented in alphabetical order for easy access. A bit of history and information on the surroundings are given for each station. For those who are interested in the motive power and rolling stock, a brief description of the locomotives and rolling stock is given. A bibliography is included. The latest edition has additional information on the pending "Purple Line" of street cars, and its connections with MARC, as well as information on the planned MagLev system.