The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Transit Administration (MTA) announced a new weekday MARC train service that will directly connect Baltimore City with Montgomery County beginning Monday, Sept. 28. The addition provides a fast, transfer‑free ride for commuters traveling between the two regions, a priority of the Moore‑Miller administration.
Route and Schedule
The new service will run one train northbound to Baltimore each morning and one southbound back to Montgomery County each evening. It will stop at Brunswick, Point of Rocks, Barnesville, Germantown, Metropolitan Grove, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Kensington, Silver Spring, College Park, Laurel, and Baltimore’s Camden Station. Existing Brunswick and Camden line timetables have been adjusted to accommodate the new run without increasing the MTA’s annual operating budget.
Time Savings
MARC estimates the direct connection will shave up to 60 minutes off several common trips. A ride from Silver Spring to Baltimore’s Camden Station will drop from 118 minutes to 57 minutes. The Germantown‑to‑College Park segment will fall from 90 minutes to roughly 45 minutes, and the Gaithersburg‑to‑Baltimore run will be reduced from 137 minutes to 78 minutes. With these improvements, rail travel times become competitive with driving between the same points.
Administration Support
“This expansion of our MARC train service will further the Moore‑Miller Administration’s priority of connecting people to opportunity,” said Tony Bridges, MTA Administrator. He noted that Baltimore and Montgomery County together house millions of residents, major employers, schools, and medical centers, and that a direct rail link will help build a stronger, more sustainable Maryland.
Impact on Commuters
Local commuters who rely on the MARC for work, education, or medical appointments stand to benefit most from the reduced travel times and the elimination of transfers. The service also supports broader state goals of reducing roadway congestion and encouraging public‑transit use, aligning with efforts to protect the environment and improve quality of life for Maryland families.
Where to Find Schedules
New timetables for both the Camden and Brunswick lines are now available on the MTA website and at station ticket offices. Riders are encouraged to review the updated schedules ahead of the Sept. 28 launch to plan their trips accordingly.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
