Sorry my voice sounds weird everyone, I lost it at the beginning of the week. Feeling much better now!!
@mikecarrington4297
17 сағат бұрын
Glad you are felling better.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
@@mikecarrington4297 thanks!
@Daniel-hj8el
16 сағат бұрын
Yeah I was gonna say at least you’ll feel better in future vids
@SleepTrain456
12 сағат бұрын
I noticed your voice; and I'm glad you're feeling better!
@djpetesake
17 сағат бұрын
Operation Lifesaver: "Trains can take up to a mile to stop" MARC: "Wave at a train and it will stop for you like a bus"
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
With night vision
@obkb1
9 сағат бұрын
One would hope that the engineer would be aware that he is approaching a flag stop and therefore reduce his speed accordingly, anticipating that he might have to stop.
@onetwothreeabc
Сағат бұрын
@@obkb1 Also the difference between passenger train and freight train.
@gregng25
18 сағат бұрын
As a lifelong Marylander, I appreciate the research you did for this video, and your shots and editing are fantastic! Nicely done. This video ought to inspire people to think about how MARC can be improved.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Thanks! Are you an ocean Marylander or a mountain Marylander? Haha
@gregng25
16 сағат бұрын
LOL, I’m a BaltiMORON
@variand103
10 сағат бұрын
I second this! Central Maryland deserves better!
@tonguepiercing
18 сағат бұрын
Bryce has enough screen confidence to scare away any ghosts at underused stations.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Everyone needs a Bryce in their life
@brycebundens6866
16 сағат бұрын
😂😂😂
@DoubleHCreations
10 сағат бұрын
But what if that ghost is Scratch from the Ghost and Molly McGee?
@cornkopp2985
15 сағат бұрын
As a maryland resident I really wish we could follow in virginia's footsteps and purchase all of the rail lines in the state from the freight companies. The camden and brunswick lines could be so much better if csx wasn't able to limit the service frequency. But sadly, seeing how the current admin doesn't even want to spend money replacing the ancient light rail cars in baltimore, I doubt we'd get any positive proactive funding...
@Thom-TRA
15 сағат бұрын
Also, unfortunately both of those lines are CSX’s main lines between major cities. I don’t think they’d even be willing to sell.
@cornkopp2985
14 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA maybe they could at least do a joint ownership where marc adds one or two lines that can be passenger only? It's sad how underutilized it all is
@Parborway
17 сағат бұрын
The Camden line might just have the wierdest schedule of any rail line in the United States. I like trains, but I took it once, and decided that I was never going to try and take it again.
@shsd4130
17 сағат бұрын
Weekend service would go a long way
@brycebundens6866
16 сағат бұрын
Jessup and Laurel Racetrack have so much potential for TOD!!! Truly magnificent transit adventure- Thanks Thom☺️
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Maybe the real TOD is the friends we made along the way
@brycebundens6866
15 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA 🤣🤣😭
@wakecountyproductions
10 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRALMAOO
@meerkatmcr
17 сағат бұрын
There's a few stations served in only one direction in the UK at the moment: South Bank, because its footbridge has just failed a safety inspection (frequent service, and buses provided to get people there in the other direction); Polesworth, which had its footbridge removed during modernisation works some years ago, and which has never had it replaced (one train a day at an anti-social hour); and Pilning, which had its footbridge removed when the line was electrified and which has never had it replaced (two trains daily at unhelpful hours). There's also Tees-side Airport station, which has never been useful as a connection to the airport, so was served by one train a week in each direction for many years. Then the footbridge was finally condemned after years of being held up by scaffolding, and the service was reduced to one train a week in one direction only. Then they condemned the platform structure itself, and the service was suspended. The station has never been officially closed, but it gets no service whatever. It's owned by the airport, who don't want to pay to maintain it.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
So it sounds like a lot of these stations only have an entrance on one side then?
@meerkatmcr
17 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA Yes. One entrance, and a footbridge to the other side. That's not uncommon for smaller stations here. Pilning and Polesworth are in relatively small places, so I don't think there's anything on the other side. South Bank is on a 4-track line (only two tracks have platforms) and the footbridge gives access to the platform in the middle of the railway. Tees-side Airport was built for the airport and only has an entrance facing it. On the other side is a main road and fields.
@aspiringtechnician9252
15 сағат бұрын
More Marc content please
@Thom-TRA
14 сағат бұрын
Okay!
@AlexDemarais
7 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRAyes please more MARC! I used to ride the Camden line daily for years and a deep dive on the rest of the Camden line would be amazing. Such a bizarre and under utilized line, even with the freight ownership I imagine it could be so much better service than it currently is, and someone like you could really shine some light on it ☀️
@davidu4758
16 сағат бұрын
There's no reason to get on or off at Laurel R/C unless there are races - even then, dubious. Laurel Park will be closing permanently in 2026 so that stop will probably be decommissioned in the near future.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
There is a whole neighborhood to the north of it
@aaronorel3254
10 сағат бұрын
They just started doing major renovations on the Pimlico racetrack in Baltimore, where the Preakness is run. I believe the plan is that the 2025 Preakness will still be run at Pimlico, then the 2026 Preakness will be run at Laurel racetrack, after which Laurel racetrack will close permanently. I have no idea what will happen to the station or the land the racetrack is on at that point. Ultimately the Camden line is extremely underutilized. I live in Baltimore and I've known several people now who have chosen to live in Laurel because it's midway between Baltimore and DC. Having a commuter rail to go between those cities would be tremendously beneficial and improve their lives in very appreciable ways, not having to own two cars or drive through the horrendous Baltimore/DC rush hour traffic. While I guess they technically do have a commuter rail in the Camden line, the abysmal schedule makes it all but unusable. It would be useful for other purposes too, like giving people at University of Maryland College Park a feasible transit option to Baltimore, effectively connecting the college's two main campuses directly, as the grad school is right in downtown Baltimore basically across the street from Camden station. It would also give those folks a one-seat ride to DC union station-they have great access to DC already on the Green line, but would have to transfer to get to Union station. MTA actually used to run a special train for gamedays at Camden Yards in the 90s, back when the stadium was new, but that was fairly short-lived.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
The line is double tracked and terminates at a much more desirable location in Baltimore. The whole line screams potential!
@updr1ft
16 сағат бұрын
If I had a nickel for every time a us city had a racetrack train station served by a single direction only I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Go buy yourself something nice that’s 10 cents, you’ve earned it
@mikekelley794
17 сағат бұрын
Yes, Thom, I am glad you are feeling better. When I started listening I thought you sounded like you were getting over a cold. Thanks for another great video. I look forward to seeing them!
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Thank you! Feel better today than all the previous week
@SandBoxJohn
8 сағат бұрын
The station at Laurel Racetrack is a legacy station going back to when trains served the station for horse racing meet at Laurel Racetrack. There use to be spur off the Amtrak Northeast north of Bowie State University that served a station for horse racing meet at Bowie Racecourse.
@SomeRamdomAhole
16 сағат бұрын
The Camden line is my home MARC line (Riverdale Park is my station ) and I honestly keep forgetting Laurel Racetrack exists lol
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Riverdale is a nice station!
@johnchastain5657
Сағат бұрын
At my former office next to Union Station in DC, our MARC commuters used to entertain us with their morning train horror stories. When they finally got there.
@Super-Suchi
17 сағат бұрын
I was just thinking "huh TRA hasn't uploaded in a week, hope thom is doing okay" and just like that you upload. I'm also dealing with a hoarse voice too so I'm the same boat as you, glad you're feeling better though!
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
So you gave it to me! Just kidding haha
@davinp
15 сағат бұрын
Since the penn line is not owned by CSX, they don't have limits on how many trains they can operate unlike VRE which CSX limits the trains which is VRE is unable all day and you see trains are stored during the day at the railyard in 1:30
@gregggyf
17 сағат бұрын
Good Afternoon Thom, SOMEONE'S GOT TO EXPLAIN FOR THAT ONE WAY SERVICE AT THE RACETRACK. But I guess that if this has been going on.... no one must really care. Do have a good day.
@kzooaviation
15 сағат бұрын
My only thought is race day service only.
@bjm676
13 сағат бұрын
But after the races? Maybe if you win big you can get a limo 😂@@kzooaviation
@MJofLakelandX
8 сағат бұрын
Granted, we're talking about MDOT MTA here. We don't even have a legitimate plan for the future to improve services. Just a "wait & see" strategy, going strong for 50 years. Don't expect MARC Camden Line to change for another century or so
@97nelsn
18 сағат бұрын
I almost went to Maryland today but I cancelled my Amtrak trip last minute. This will do for now.
@Thom-TRA
18 сағат бұрын
@@97nelsn now you’ve seen the bad parts, time to see the good parts haha
@97nelsn
17 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA I was about to, well mainly DC
@R262SubwayTrain
18 сағат бұрын
Laurel and Laurel Racetrack is like Aqueduct and Aqueduct Racetrack in New York
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Yes, except I believe aqueduct racetrack only has a platform on one side
@rikkichunn8856
10 сағат бұрын
Delightfully bizarre, Thom! So, I've figured out what Laurel Racetrack station is for. Three groups of people: 1. Railfans who travel from Washington to Baltimore, then back to Laurel Racetrack. The next day, they catch the train into Washington DC. That's why I specified "railfans"--I can't imagine anyone else who would want to do that. 2. Wealthy race fans who own a home in Washington and one in Baltimore. They take the train from Baltimore, then gamble away their Baltimore home at the track, so they have to go home to their one remaining home in Washington. The next day. Problems with this. First of all, no gambler ever plans on losing big. Second, if they're broke after a day at the races, where do they spend the night waiting for the next train? 3. Workaholics who work for the federal government in D.C. They take the train into work, not making any plans for ever coming home again. BTW, you left out the most interesting part of your adventure. How did you get to Laurel Racetrack if you couldn't take the train?
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
We took an Uber, after doing some shopping nearby!
@teecefamilykent
7 сағат бұрын
Weird, but great video sir! Got ya smartcards ready for ya.
@shsd4130
17 сағат бұрын
I always wanted to stop at Laurel Racetrack! Great vid.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Still wanna go? Haha
@warmike
Сағат бұрын
0:58 My city has an arrangement like this! Saint-Petersburg has 2 lines to Gatchina. They used to start at 2 different stations in Saint-Petersburg (the Baltiysky vokzal and the Varshavsky vokzal), but in the 2000s Varshavsky vokzal was closed, and now these 2 lines start at the same station (but terminate at two different stations in Gatchina, also named Baltiysky vokzal and Varshavsky vokzal)
@paulcastillo1310
17 сағат бұрын
Great video and hope you feel better soon
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Thank you!
@paulcastillo1310
17 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA your welcome
@strredwolf
10 минут бұрын
Jessup used to be a decent infill station in the 1990's, before Dorsey was constructed. Afterwards, everyone just went to Dorsey or Savage. Now... well, the numbers don't lie. Shut it down. And yes, Laurel Racetrack has seen better days, but the station just needs to be shut down and merged with Laurel. Both can be moved to a corner of the Racetrack w/o issues -- only need the platforms, cross-tunnel that's tall enough, and enough parking for MARC commuters that won't get flooded out. Oh, and a traffic light at the entrance to the race track.
@davinp
14 сағат бұрын
VRE used to have single level coaches like MARC's but got rid of them because they wanted double-decker cars
@rikkichunn8856
2 сағат бұрын
Here's a true story about the recovery of a racetrack station. Arlington Park racetrack, in Arlington Heights, IL (where I grew up), a suburb of Chicago, was built on the UP-NW line. It also had a huge parking lot, but it only had train service during racing season. After the racetrack closed a few years ago, Metra converted the station to a regular regional rail station. It serves Rolling Meadows, the west side of Arlington Heights, and so on. Perhaps thanks to that parking lot, it's the busiest station on the UP-NW line today. The authorities are trying to decide what to do with the racetrack, but the station is going strong!
@mgzuck
16 сағат бұрын
I hope as they build more of the transit oriented development by the Laurel Park station it's service will be improved, but time will tell. The racetrack itself is going to close in 2026 so more land there will become available for redevelopment, on top of the building already going on.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
I hope so too!
@LQC2556
6 сағат бұрын
When I heard "you also want to be able to travel back to where you started in most cases" at 4:28, I thought that was a no-brainer, until I found out what the deal was about Laurel Racetrack station... It seems like the kind of station that would only get special event service, but I'm not sure how many events there would be on weekdays when the train is actually operating. Regarding the note about city pairs with two different commuter corridors, I'd say what this reminds me the most of is the Metrolink San Bernardino/Riverside lines, as both of them go from LA Union Station to the Inland Empire (albeit ending in different cities). The reason is that the San Bernardino Line is actually quite good, whereas on the other hand the Riverside Line is the "odd one out", running at low frequencies on weekdays only, sort of like the Camden Line.
@97nelsn
18 сағат бұрын
1:11 Newark has 2 stations served by NJ Transit going to NYC and Hoboken (though the waterfront connector via Newark Penn Station is barely used but trains serving Broad Street Station have both NYC and Hoboken service, yet Midtown Direct service uses the Northeast Corridor to get to NY Penn Station)
@jammes122
16 сағат бұрын
I saw this video title and thumbnail and I totally thought you were gonna also cover St. Dennis station. I’ve never gotten on or off there, but it’s like they basically just dropped a ramshackle shelter there with 12-15 feet of platform and decided to call it a station stop. Having never seen Laurel Racetrack station before, the state of the place is kinda shocking. I’m surprised it hasn’t been closed down.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
St. Denis is relatively well off compared to these two 😂
@MJofLakelandX
7 сағат бұрын
At least St. Denis has Guiness Brewery nearby 😅
@jammes122
7 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRAWell it does have over 5 times the daily ridership of both Jessup and Laurel Racetrack 😂
@frankbernotimm3031
17 сағат бұрын
Let me add this: I returned recently from a trip to the US. Comparing New York, Chicago and Boston with rail- and light rail in Germany, I must consider, that the American networks are quite less accessible. The stairs are often very steep, escalators are rare. This is unfavorable either! - We have a lot of areas in Germany with no trains at all, not a single one. And the big talk about the traffic turnaround...
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
It really greatly depends on the age of the infrastructure
@Yanick.R
16 сағат бұрын
When I saw the video title I assumed my neighborhood station, St. Denis, would make the list. It’s plagued with similar schedule problems that you’ve described making it difficult for me to use unless my trips align perfectly with commuter traffic. I was surprised to know my stop wasn’t the worst!
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Yeah St. Denis is a (dis)honorable mention!
@Yanick.R
16 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA fair enough! 🤣 As a train fan, a part of me cries every time I have to take the Penn line instead of Camden… but I need to make it home!
@MJofLakelandX
7 сағат бұрын
I guess it's made even worse since MTA discontinued the Yellow to Relay (Guiness) because of "low ridership" 🙄
@roberthuron9160
10 сағат бұрын
Interesting,that MARC has DD's,like NJ Transit! Same carbuilder?? The Long Island's are a different breed of cats,and so are the locomotives! Anyway,there are two racetrack stations on public transport in the NYC Metropolitan area:they are Aqueduct(on the NYCTA A line),and Belmont[on the Long Island Railroad mainline]! Both stations are only open during racing seasons,so the only way,to get there,is to go to the races(literally)! Thanks for an interesting sidebar to transit history,and your persistence to follow it through! Oh,to be 16 again! Thank you,guys!! Thank you 😇 😊!
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
They do look very similar, don’t they?
@SleepTrain456
12 сағат бұрын
As usual, I found this quite informative! Now, I have learned about the two least useful stations in Maryland: one station in Jessup that is served by one round trip per day, and another station, Laurel Race Track, that is served by three southbound round trips... and no northbound trains, despite having a northbound platform! I wonder why they don't use the northbound platform that's already there? I'll update the Wikipedia page for the Laurel Race Track station, to help emphasize it's one-directionalness. Thanks for the video!
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Thanks for doing that!!
@kevinb7810
12 сағат бұрын
❤ hey guys! MARC TRAIN rider here starting in 2008 via Penn. Now I live in Laurel since 2020. I 100% agree on all the content!! I’m closest to Savage. Camden is its own beast for sure!! Great video! I laughed a lot.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Thanks for watching! How do you like Laurel?
@baseballfan99
15 сағат бұрын
There are such stations in the U.K. and they usually stay open due the cost of closing them. They often have a token service which may be a low as once a week and often inner city suburbs, such as Ardwick in Manchester which have a much better bus service and the station is badly sited. The latest trick is to come up with another reason e.g. Teesside Airport where they said the platform is unsafe. They may provide a token bus journey instead. Ardwick however won a reprieve when they built a new access bridge.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
So what costs are associated with closing a station? I’ve always been interested in that aspect of British railways
@baseballfan99
5 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA It’s mainly the costs of public consultation which may then result in opposition etc, then all the legal costs of formal closure and decommissioning of the infrastructure etc. Most stations that are formally closed are due to a replacement station being built close by such as Angel Road in London being replaced with Meridian Water which is much better sighted. www.orr.gov.uk/rail-guidance-compliance/network-access/station-depot/closures
@johndixon-l1c
15 сағат бұрын
I liked this video very much. I live in MD.
@Thom-TRA
15 сағат бұрын
Thanks!
@jg-7780
9 сағат бұрын
I've never been able to figure out the reasons why Laurel Racetrack is served the way its served. My best guess is that it used to have trains in both directions, but maybe was some sort of issue with the northbound platform that led them to stop serving it, and they just cancelled the northbound stops and changed nothing else. Anytime MARC changes their schedule, it always seems to be trying to stay similar to the previous schedule without ever questioning whether the old schedule made sense in the first place. If Amtrak or CSX makes a change that requires adjustment, they'll just do whatever is easiest from a logistics end, not whats best from a passenger end.
@Thom-TRA
9 сағат бұрын
It’s probably something political tbh. Like they don’t want to serve it but Laurel forces them to so then they do it this way and nobody uses it. Something like that, would be my guess.
@siccodierdorp6947
Сағат бұрын
Interessante video weer! There is a station in Britain (Pilning) with two platforms and only one train in one direction. This is due to the footbrigde that had to be demolished as it was in bad shape.
@haj8579
11 сағат бұрын
Sometimes I take a bus to Lankwitz station to take the S-Bahn train to U7, which gets me back home. That station has only one track and one platform(probably because of lack of space), but still serves both directions. It feels really weird to learn that there is a station which does opposite.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Wow that’s really interesting. I’m gonna look it up now.
@Geotpf
10 сағат бұрын
Another example of two separate lines that go to and from the same city is between the main train station in Riverside, California and Union Station in Los Angeles on the Metrolink commuter/regional rail system. One (Riverside Line) uses tracks owned by Union Pacific and all indications are that that corridor is completely congested with freight trsffic so it is a purely commuter line; no weekend service, only one train mid day, and no reverse commuter service, with no room to add any of those things. Most of the mid-line stations are just a couple miles south of the much more frequent San Bernardino line. It is more direct than the other line to Riverside, however, and therefore is faster. The other line (91/Perris Line) uses tracks owned by BNSF and apparently has room to grow, with service off peak and on weekends. It also starts long before Riverside, out in Perris, and therefore the first half of the train is mostly for people commuting from Perris to Riverside. It also serves two additional stations in Riverside and two in Corona. Three of those four are quite far away from any other Metrolink stations.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Yeah the riverside line is pretty sad
@PhilipSalen
16 сағат бұрын
The city of Baltimore should encourage housing developments, high density housing developments at jessup station
@JeromeAHorne
14 сағат бұрын
Jessup is not inside the city of Baltimore.
@kesschristopher
17 сағат бұрын
Haven't even watched the video yet but I'm just going to say Laurel Racetrack for sure and Jessup. Camden Yards is for O's and Ravens games.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Good guesses!
@jskim-pz2bl
9 сағат бұрын
watching the two useless station Jessup and Laurel racetrack. Especially since i’ve driven past them
@AVM65DT
14 сағат бұрын
Jessup, MD also has a truck stop and isn’t far from Columbia, MD.
@Steven-mv4bb
12 сағат бұрын
There are a few mid-sized employers within a short bike ride of Jessup, also.
@onetwothreeabc
2 сағат бұрын
How about bringing back those luxury services that was once there?
@russellgxy2905
9 сағат бұрын
Closest duology of intercity commuter rail would be SEPTA's Trenton and West Trenton Lines
@Thom-TRA
9 сағат бұрын
Or the Metra Rock Island and Heritage Corridor might be even better
@nelsonramos5826
52 минут бұрын
Thanks 😊
@davinp
15 сағат бұрын
At 0:38 showing the man walking across the tracks. In Virginia, they don't allow that. The stations with a double platform have a fence between the tracks to prevent walking across them. VRE wants to eliminate the one at Alexandria which is an Amtrak crossing
@jmharper60
10 сағат бұрын
Rode the Penn line from Baltimore to DC in the late morning to see a Washington Nationals game, then was able to ride the Camden line back to Baltimore for an Orioles game that night. Luckily I was staying in Baltimore that night, as it would have been hard if not impossible to do the reverse! Too bad there is no event service for ballgames and such.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Wow, a double hitter!
@Steven-mv4bb
12 сағат бұрын
I really wish the MARC Camden had service similar to the Penn. I'd use it all the time!
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
I’m sure a lot of people would!
@stevenroshni1228
17 сағат бұрын
14:23 I see you showed the train that stops at a racetrack in only one direction (towards Manhattan) without actually explaining it. They also put a Casino Hotel there, and the station with two direction service is within walking distance. ps. B&O Railroad is memorialized on the standard Monopoly game board
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
That was just an illustration to when I was talking about the fact that there are other examples of one-direction running.
@stevenroshni1228
15 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA I know, I'm guessing most of the viewers don't know that train's route
@davinp
15 сағат бұрын
Did you know VRE is one of 3 agencies that guarantee trains are on time. If they are 30 more minutes late, you get a free ride certificate
@michaelb9629
14 сағат бұрын
I didn’t think there would be a commuter rail service that has stations that are least used. I guess some of the Metra stations in the Chicago area are too. I would go to any station I have to so I can catch a train hoping it’ll stop, even if it says on the schedule it will depending on the one I choose.
@srajfnly2
18 сағат бұрын
Thom are you ok, you sound sick?
@Thom-TRA
18 сағат бұрын
Yeah I lost my voice this week
@srajfnly2
18 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA hope you feel better soon
@jstephens2758
13 сағат бұрын
One direction is fine for me. Since I don't know where I am or where I'm going, there is no place I plan to return to.
@tankbuddy9666
12 сағат бұрын
So un-fun fact: The Penn line runs on electrified track but MTA does not use electric locomotives (anymore). Also, to add insult to injury, you can take the Camden line from DC to Camden Yards, but you wouldn't be able to get back after an Orioles game because they only run during rush hour in the rush direction...
@Thom-TRA
11 сағат бұрын
I see an occasional electric every now and then, but yes, seeing diesel on the Penn line is so aggravating
@MJofLakelandX
7 сағат бұрын
MARC has the HHP-8s running the occasional peak "limited-stop" trips
@Chris-x4n
39 минут бұрын
I heard MARC was going to buy some of SEPTA's ACS 64 locomotives
@johnchambers8528
13 сағат бұрын
The Laurel Racetrack station was originally built to serve the racetrack. Over the years less people attended the races and used the train to get there. I still don’t know why MARC does not have a few trains stop there on race days. At least for now it is the primary racetrack that Maryland runs races at. They should at least have a few trains stop there before and after when the races are run. They do run Saturday and Sunday but it would not make sense to run special trains on those days. But if they are running on weekdays it should be a flag stop like you mentioned for the other station. That station looks a lot like the old station the B&O used at Delaware Park Racetrack when I was a child. That track had both the B&O trains as well as trains from the Pennsylvania Railroad serving it. It now is both a casino and racetrack and you can get there by train to Churchman’s Crossings station on the line to and from Newark, De. But it also has limited stops and you need to ride a shuttle bus to the entrance of the casino- racetrack.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Race day stops make a lot of sense! But perhaps we shouldn’t look for sense in the MARC Camden line hahaha
@PiplupJames
16 сағат бұрын
I still haven’t been on the Camden line
@Thom-TRA
15 сағат бұрын
You should go for a ride!
@shsd4130
16 сағат бұрын
1:03 "I can't think of too many other examples in the US where a city pair is connected by two different commuter corridors" Me neither, all I can think of is Riverside-LA. Philly to Trenton? Most of the corridors I'm thinking of are disqualified because one of the termini isn't a city, or the transit between them is a metro and not commuter service.
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Those are good examples!
@shsd4130
12 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA Just remembered Joliet to Chicago
@Thom-TRA
12 сағат бұрын
@@shsd4130 oh yeah! How could I forget
@history_leisure
13 сағат бұрын
A place with Racetrack in the name sounds like it should be events only and nothing outside of that, so Jessup is really the more inferior station. With Laurel proper being so close, it would make more sense just to close Racetrack. Jessup does have housing nearby, but really feels more industrial. Jessup needs to be rebuilt to better serve the community (no one wants to evict the business(es) and at least give it a station building), Racetrack just doesn’t work in today’s and would be better served by a bus as a flag stop deviation or limited terminus (over Laurel station) on a longer route (the 502 kind of does northbound only)
@Cupertinorail
13 сағат бұрын
Conditional stops are seen on the Caltrain. College park is one and Stanford is used for games only. Have you heard the story of the Hawkeye express? It's the only university train in the world and now the stations are completely abandoned as of 2021. Iowa Northern and the University of Iowa ran the train for 15 years.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
I’m gonna look it up!
@Cupertinorail
10 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA never ridden it but heard from other rail fans it was unique.
@alk61695
12 сағат бұрын
I never understood that MARC line. One thing that I don't understand is how they won't run extra trains when there are events at either Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium. If you ran trains pre and post events, wouldn't that take a lot of cars off the roads?
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
I wonder if the freight railroad is being difficult about extra trains. It just seems so obvious to run more, you know?
@alk61695
Сағат бұрын
@Thom-TRA yeah that's what I have heard. I wanted to take that line once. I was staying in Maryland near the Dorsey station and wanted to go to DC. Didn't realize that line only ran during rush hour.
@Videowatcher10p
11 сағат бұрын
1:11 SEPTA has the Trenton and West Trenton line
@ranapalaka
15 сағат бұрын
The Camden Line has such a weird schedule. I usually only use it to get to College Park on days I have to teach section because even trying to get to Baltimore with it is a pain. I had a trip to Baltimore recently that I wanted to use the Camden Line for (so I could get on the light rail really easily) but the schedule did not work out at all.
@Thom-TRA
15 сағат бұрын
It really feels like they asked themselves how they could make it impossible to use for as many people as possible.
@ranapalaka
15 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA it's really true. I wasn't even trying to go to Baltimore at a weird hour, either. In the end I just went to Union Station and took Amtrak instead.
@XDFRailRoadCooler
2 сағат бұрын
Don't tell me your friend has an e-scooter which are not aload on trains in U.K., because they can catch 🔥!
@TheOneKEA
15 сағат бұрын
It would be conceptually easy to fix Laurel Racetrack. The lack of imagination to build it up as a massive park and ride-equipped transit hub for the HoCo, PG and AACo bus routes that ply the region is puzzling. There is(/was?) a huge brownfield industrial site to the north of the station that would be/have been ideal for a large bus station, and it would take some of the pressure for parking off of Laurel station. If the ever-gestating plans to redevelop Laurel Racetrack ever get off the ground, upgrading the station will be crucial to making those plans successful IMO. Jessup station is much harder to fix. The site is very constrained, surrounded by prisons and industrial sites, and MD Route 175 is too narrow to support segregated transit and pedestrian facilities of the sort that would encourage the residents on the AACo side to use the station. I think it could be closed in the next 5 years.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Great insights
@bigaspidistra
16 сағат бұрын
There are 300 parking spaces listed at Laurel Racetrack Station. Maybe that is what it is really used for ....
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
I wonder who parks there
@johnchambers8528
13 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRAPeople going to the racetrack.
@azurite1398
14 сағат бұрын
That'd be st denis, a stop that gets only 3 trains a day during peak
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Watch the video, St. Denis actually has a better station than some other stations on this line
@guyfaux3978
17 сағат бұрын
Jessup MD is the site of the Maryland State Pen-- it was name-checked all the time in the TV series Homicide: Life On The Streets set in Baltimore. I don't know how that figures into when and why MARC stops there, but I just wanted to rebut that statement about "There's nothing here!" Well, maybe not RIGHT next to the tracks...
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
Yeah, I guess that’s nearby. Though something tells me the inmates don’t take MARC on their way to serve their sentences 😂
@guyfaux3978
17 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA But maybe some of the employees commute there, was my thought.
@Thom-TRA
16 сағат бұрын
Maybe that’s who the 1 rider a day is
@mgzuck
16 сағат бұрын
So Jessup was an original station on the B&O line. Never was a huge town by any stretch, but really declined - and the station building was demolished in the early 60's I believe. MARC built the Dorsey station they went up to mid 90's and that has the big lot to serve as the main station for the area these days. I live closest to Jessup, but on the pretty rare occasion I need to go to DC for the day I use Dorsey. ...and yes, the jails are nearby where that station is.
@RadioWaco
14 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRAWell, if the train ran more often to/from there, then it could be a good option for family members who want to visit a loved one in the prison if they don't own a car. Also, my alma mater (Goucher College in Towson) runs a college program for Jessup inmates. I had friends/classmates that used to tutor there and a good non-car option between Jessup and Baltimore was MUCH needed since not everyone who worked for or helped with the program had their own car.
@king_br0k
12 сағат бұрын
1:11 metra heritage Coordor and Rock island both go to Joliet
@letsgoOs1002
13 сағат бұрын
Camden line would be amazing if Marc ran it during orioles game.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
Seems so obvious, right?
@13thFlProductions
17 сағат бұрын
Does Laurel Racetrack ever have more service for horse racing events? That seems like it would be the only use for the station and for that one specific use, could be quite useful if there was special event service.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
I honestly don’t know
@johnchambers8528
13 сағат бұрын
They do not provide service for any racing event held at the track. I still don’t know why they can’t have at least flag stop service on weekdays when they have racing. There usually would not be enough passengers to justify a special train to the racetrack today. Most people seem to prefer casino gambling.
@Chinemeremdozie
17 сағат бұрын
You could have taken the 502 to Dorsey from jessup
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
That doesn’t go anywhere near Dorsey
@Chinemeremdozie
17 сағат бұрын
@@Thom-TRA i mean the 501 if you walked until you got to the food center
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
@@Chinemeremdozie you still can’t. By the time you walk to the food center, the first bus you can take leaves way after the train back to DC.
@alexisdespland4939
10 минут бұрын
do more trains stop at laral racetrack when races
@greenbogggames
17 сағат бұрын
I guess you could walk to Laurel to get the train back from Laurel Racetrack
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
That’s kinda dumb tho, it’s like a mile
@greenbogggames
17 сағат бұрын
@Thom-TRA yep they should just close Laurel Racetrack and put in a walking path to Laurel instead.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
@@greenbogggames or redevelop the area around the racetrack. I’d be much more in favor of that.
@AMPProf
16 сағат бұрын
Wish everyone had a train..
@Loso1131
15 сағат бұрын
You seem like a train enthusiast apply for passenger engineer Amtrak is hiring
@Thom-TRA
15 сағат бұрын
No thanks, I’m pursuing other things!
@dimitrioszafeiropoulos799
11 сағат бұрын
If you think about it they aren’t useless…... otherwise there wouldn’t be content to be made on it.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
True haha. But are we content creators enough reason to keep something open?
@chrislochner4038
12 сағат бұрын
Md transportation is incredibly bad. The Baltimore light rail cars have seats which have never been cleaned. Everyone looks for the ones to sit on which are the least brown- the original color is blue.😮 Yuck on steroids.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
I rode the subway for the first time last week. Wanted to cry. 37 minute headways!!!
@jackwtat
18 сағат бұрын
First!
@Thom-TRA
18 сағат бұрын
Congrats!
@Northern_Idaho
17 сағат бұрын
On my way to comment why I feel the Camden Line should run more often to boost ridership.
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
What a revolutionary idea haha
@rockvilleraven
16 сағат бұрын
I remember when Orioles Park at Camden Yards opened up, MARC had special service for Orioles home games from DC to Camden Yards Station , they discontinued it because they couldn’t guarantee a connection to the DC Metro before it closed for the night and CSX freight service on the line was more profitable.
@TheOneKEA
13 сағат бұрын
@@rockvilleraven The services were also withdrawn due to crew roster problems. There was a notorious incident where a baseball special stopped at F Interlocking on the Capital Subdivision and remained there for several hours because the crew were required to go off duty. The negative coverage of the stranded passengers contributed to CSX’s decision to withdraw permission for the baseball services to operate.
@JJRol.
13 сағат бұрын
Yeah these don't even have large amounts of parking or anything, they're literally useless. This was a fun video though.
@Thom-TRA
10 сағат бұрын
It’s insane they’re still open
@joelbiallas2520
17 сағат бұрын
Tom I like your videos over all, but good lord do SOME research. Penn is ex prr.,. camden is ex B&O. CSX doesnt like to share its main lines with pax. NS doesnt use the ex PRR branch as much. Problem solved!
@Thom-TRA
17 сағат бұрын
And why do you think I don’t know that? Have you seen any of my other videos? I literally have one about that history. Geez. And how about you do some research? My name isn’t “Tom.”
@ryanconnelly3685
3 сағат бұрын
Someone compiled a list of all the useless stations in Maryland: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MARC_Train_stations I jest... sort of. MARC should be so much better than it is
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