Yes, a Complaint About the MARC Train

I've been spending the week in Baltimore, so no Route 50 commuting horror stories. However, I do have a MARC train grip.

Start Time: 7:30 am
End Time: 9:08 am

Time train left Baltimore: 7:45 am

Time train was SUPPOSED to get into DC station: 8:41 am

Time we actually got into the station: 8:54 am

Typically I don't have a lot to complain about when it comes to the MARC train. I get to sit and just chill for an hour instead of driving. I have no traffic to worry about, no need to be fully awake and alert, no commuting partner complaining to me about late arrival times - buuuut there are still problems.

Today for example, is the perfect example of small but decently aggravating situation. We were on time as we arrived at the station. Then as we slowed to make the approach the train came to a complete stop. We just sit there. After 5 minutes finally an announcement is made, we are waiting to be assigned a gate. Excuse me? I do believe that this train arrives around the same time every weekday, please Union Station explain to me why you weren't ready with an assigned gate? I understand that these things happen, however we proceed to sit for 10 more minutes waiting for a gate. That's right, just 15 minutes stuck on the train. There goes my ability to be early this morning.

To add to this incident we pull in behind another train. Now the gate that the train I take normally pulls into is a lower platform, so you have to walk down the steep train steps to disembark. But when you are gated behind an already parked train you are literally out at the end of the terminal. You are out in the middle of tracks on a small stretch of paved walkway that is not even close to the terminal. This make disembarking even harder. In fact usually the crew puts step stools on the ground for passengers to step onto after the step off of the train. (They didn't have many of them this morning, but lucky for me I commute in sneakers.)

Not only is the train late getting in, but I have to hike to the terminal, just to exit union station and get into work. All after waiting 15 minutes for a station to get ready to receive a train that it's used to arriving at 8:41am. Great.

At least there were free donuts and hot apple cider this morning complements of building management. That helped to put me in a better mood before I got thrown into yet another work emergency. WHOOO!

Tomorrow I will experience the wonders of Amtrak as I jet up to NYC for the day on business. We shall see how that goes...