MARC Penn Line Train 520 | Washington Union Station - Perryville Station

The full route of MARC Penn Line Train 520.

Camden Line:    • MARC Camden Line Train 854 | Washingt...  
Brunswick Line:    • MARC Brunswick Line Train 881 | Washi...  

Maryland Area Rail Commuter
Maryland Transit Administration

Date: Friday, January 19, 2024
Origin: Washington Union Station (WAS) - Washington, DC, USA
Destination: Perryville Station (PRV) - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, USA

Locomotive: MPI MPXpress MP36PH-3C No. 11 (diesel-electric)
Coach: Bombardier MultiLevel MARC IV Nos. 8009 & 8092 (bi-level)

Distance: 77 miles / 124 kilometers
Average Speed: 44 mph / 71 km/h
Top Speed: 125 mph / 201 km/h
Track Gauge: 4 ft 8.5 in / 1,435 mm
Total Ride Time: 1 hour, 52 minutes

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The MARC Penn Line is one of the foremost commuter lines in the United States. It operates along the southernmost portion of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, connecting Union Station in Washington, DC to Perryville, MD, just south of Wilmington, DE. I ride the Penn Line regularly between DC and Baltimore, but I chose a snowy Friday to finally go out and brave the full nearly two-hour run, with this being one of the few trains that stops at all 13 stations.

Staffed by Amtrak, the MARC Penn Line descends from services provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central and Conrail, with roots going back to the late 1800s. Most trains end at Baltimore Penn Station, often skipping smaller stops like Seabrook and Bowie State University. The route spans 77 miles, with speeds averaging around 44 miles an hour due to various restrictions, and topping out at 125, depending on the locomotive. As part of the Northeast Corridor, the Penn Line is indeed electrified. But the fleet of six Bombardier HHP-8s are the only MARC locomotives that use the overhead lines; the rest run on diesel. The Penn Line is also the only MARC train route that runs on weekends, with none going further than Martin State Airport.

Perryville Station hosts the Perryville Railroad Museum, featuring a live train display and various other railroad artifacts. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 p.m. Eastern Time, but also offers tours by appointment.

Special thanks to the entire crew.

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0:00:00 – Boarding
0:00:22 – Fare & Ticket Information
0:00:43 – Leaving Washington Union Station
0:03:40 – Union Station Rail Yard & Amtrak Ivy City Maintenance Facility
0:04:56 – Camden Line/Penn Line Split
0:05:17 – Union Station - New Carrollton
0:12:38 – New Carrollton - Seabrook
0:16:42 – Seabrook - Bowie State University
0:22:33 – Bowie State University - Odenton
0:28:35 – Odenton - BWI Airport
0:35:02 – BWI Shuttle Bus Information
0:35:18 – BWI Airport - Halethorpe
0:41:04 – Halethorpe - West Baltimore
0:48:03 – West Baltimore - Baltimore Penn Station
0:50:06 – Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel
0:53:10 – Arrival at Baltimore Penn
0:55:01 – Baltimore Penn - Martin State Airport
1:07:10 – Lockheed Facilities & Arrival at Martin State Airport
1:08:32 – Martin State Airport - Edgewood
1:25:08 – Edgewood - Aberdeen
1:33:35 – Aberdeen - Perryville
1:39:53 – Arrival at Perryville Station
1:40:21 – Disembarking & Station Mini-Tour

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Website • https://javanhamilton.tv/travel/
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2024 by Javan Hamilton

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