Marc Train. On their website they describe a delay of 5 hours as "Late". No information provided. Train travelling at 15 mph. No announcements given read more

So, I live in NY, which means I'm used to horrid looking, under kept subway station and trains. I got to Union Station in DC and though, this is wrong, a regular station shouldn't look this good. Plus, the trains are so clean and the chairs are cushioned. I thought I had died and went to subway heaven. But then again, maybe New York has lowered my standards. One thing that New York subway is definitely better at is the train conductors. There is no why these people in DC would pass in NY to operate a train. I mean, several times during my ride, the train would stop, the doors would open and as people are about to walk in the train would jerk forward. That happened twice at a single stop once. I wish I could mush up DC's train station beauty and NY train driving skills and make a master baby subway, with lower travel costs, of course. read more

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When I stepped out of the bus terminal then passing the train station and find our way to the front, I was amazed how clean, nice and beautiful Union Station DC is. I felt I was inside a museum - loved the ceilings, the details of the walls are intricate and the architecture of the building is awesome. There is a handful of eateries and shops inside the station that surprised me. I would love to travel back using this station. read more

If you are a regular on the DC Metro you know the drill - you know what lines go where, you know how to get your Metro card, you aren't confused. However, if you aren't...well, it can be a confusing place and it's probably one of the worst places to try to get help because you have SO many people transiting this station...Just not enough workers to really help. That said, I think this Metro stop is just like any of the other stations...except the signage is a little better than some of the others. What I do love about this Metro stop is that it is co-located with Union Station...which allows me to take Amtrak into DC when I have to go down for work instead of fighting traffic for 4+ hours. read more

It has a tendency to be overcrowded, late and break down far too frequently, but it's still the best way to get from Baltimore to D.C. everyday so I'm happy to take it. read more

Union Station Metro - Headed down from Baltimore - Train Stations Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Central hub for the Metro that is close to the Capitol Building. Took the Red line from the white house area to Union Station. Clean and easy navigation within the Metro overall. Union station has a "shopping mall" area with a few stores including MAC, L'Occitan and some for options such as Au Bon Pain and a Pizzeria Uno's upstairs. read more

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I am actually super impressed that you can take the MARC to BWI from Union Station for $7 each way. What a convenient way to get to BWI without battling the traffic on the BW parkway. With that being said, we were super lucky both going to and from BWI in catching the train right when it was getting ready to head out. If you do not plan right (or get lucky because we never planned on the BWI-Union Station trip since we were just headed home) you can be waiting an hour to get on the MARC. Bottom line: check the schedule published online and it's easy to not have to wait around. It's slightly less comfortable than an Amtrak car but there is still some leg room and spots available for luggage. I hope I can avoid flying out of BWI in the future, but if I must, I would happily use the MARC train to get to and from the airport again. read more

Union Station is walkable to a fair amount of Downtown, including being the closest thing to Georgetown Law and reasonable to the government buildings in the area. It's better lit and busier than the nearby Judiciary Square area after dark. Union Station itself is a rather large shopping area and transit hub, so this is a useful stop. The Metro exit is closer to the surface and seems to have shorter and less error-prone escalators than many stops in the area. read more

Penn Line review: This critical public service that provides economic opportunity in the region is clearly under-resourced. Trains are never on time and there are frequent breakdowns and cancellations. Maryland needs to make sure MARC has functioning equipment, regular maintenance, and backup systems; they are screwing over a lot of working people with their disgraceful service failure record. read more

Lovely place when it's not overly crowded. Come by to see the Christmas tree. Though it's a tad big of a station, the trains usually run on time. read more

Union Station Metro - Train Stations Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice ride from Washington DC (Union Station) to Camden Yard in Baltimore for the more than fair fare of $8. Bargain. Only wish we could have taken it back to DC but, understand it's mostly a commuter train. Train were clean and ran smooth. read more

Can't really say I missed the train. In DC for business conference. Took the train, and can't say it was the smartest decision. I don't know why, but since computers and machines took over people giving you the attitude when you are asking them a simple question. Yes, I know I could look it up on my smartphone, but how hard and why should it be hard if you are asking a staff member a question. Wouldn't a simple One word answer could be easier? read more

So I'm in DC. My best friend says - take the green line on the Metro until you get to the shuttle that will take you to BWI. Her cousin says - eff that, pay a few more bucks - take the MARC train, you will not be disappointed. Originally, I was going to be going on this adventure alone, but the cousin came with. She lived in DC for years while going to school, so I trust her judgment and know how. Who's to argue? 7 bucks will get you on the train. Make sure to buy the ticket at any of the Amtrak kiosks, but make sure you pick the MARC option - Amtrak will get you there, but it'll also cost you like 25 bucks. If you don't have a ticket - you could get into a lot of trouble. There are ticket takers on the train checking for tickets. It's about 30 mins on the train from Union Station, Only Monday - Friday though. There is a stop for BWI, and from there it's a short bus ride to the airport. read more

MARC Train The MARC is one of the nicest trains I've ridden on in the States. The ride to Baltimore or BWI (the only places I've ever taken it) is pretty quick and the ride is smooth. There is a shuttle bus you have to take from where the train drops off. Add an extra 30 minutes into your plans to account for the shuttle bus so you don't have a problem catching your flight, like me. For just $6 from Union Station in Washington DC you can get to BWI airport. Buy your ticket right inside "Gate A" at Union Station. read more

I'm thankful for the MARC train because I've been using it for years to commute from BWI area to my school/ work in DC. Without it, I would either have to drive, the stress of which would cause 5 to 7 of my internal organs to explode, or else I'd have to continuously pay Amtrak fares, which at minimum tend to be 2 to 3 times the MARC ticket cost and sometimes more depending on when you go. MARC is relatively cheap and you can get your employer to cover all or part of its cost in many instances; your commuter ticket also can get you free parking at the BWI Garage if you leave from BWI (call their office for details). Parking at some other stations, like Halethorpe and Odenton, is also plentiful though you're not in a garage. Yayyy. The majority of the time (we're talking a simple majority here sometimes folks, as in 51% of the time) it is dependable. I have seen some horror show situations on the MARCs, primarily at rush hour, where if one train breaks down, a large number of commuters are affected, other trains back up, etc. When the MARC breaks at rush hour, you can quickly end up with a crowd scene straight out of the French Revolution at BWI or Union Station. I have also experienced being on a train that broke down right outside Union Station and instead of getting us off there and putting us on the next train, they let later trains essentially go ahead/ around us while we sat and sat for hours. That sucked bigtime because I'd taken an early train specifically to get to a doctor's appointment that I ended up having to miss, AND was charged a copay for late cancellation. Booo. MARC's fleet of trains is aging so unfortunately, breakdowns and such have been increasingly more common in the last couple of years than they were before that. Boooo. However, most of the truly awful MARC horrors occur at the rush hours, i.e. roughly when the government workers start and stop work. If you can possibly skew your commute so you're using MARC at earlier or later times, and be a bit flexible (i.e. able to pay for an Amtrak ticket once in a while), you'll miss a lot of MARC's worst moments. Overall, for me it still beats having to drive to DC and pay for parking there. Yayyy. The cars are reasonably comfortable and clean although they get progressively scuzzier as the day goes on. The last trains of the day tend to be "party central" and have the wack or drunk people as well as a lot of very tired commuters, so by then the cars are looking and smelling a bit more gutteriffic, but I can usually find a place to sit that's not in the middle of someone's spilled Pepsi puddle or worse. Unfortunately, MARC only runs on weekdays, no weekend service. Booo. It also recently tried to cancel the trains around 10-10:30 pm and forced everybody who uses those (including me, who works a 10-11 am to 8-9 pm schedule to avoid rush hour, and then needs about an hour to get across DC to the train station, hence I need a train after 10 pm) to pitch a fit in a public hearing to keep them. Big booooo, although they did end up keeping those trains. Also, on government holidays, the MARC runs something called a Holiday S Schedule, which essentially means almost no trains and only at certain times, no late trains. They've also taken to cancelling all train service period during certain holidays. Boo, boo, boo. The Amtrak still runs, but MARC needs to understand that not everybody works for the government and not everybody takes the holidays off regardless of where they work. I'd agree that the lack of weekend service is the biggest black eye for the MARC system. It's always complaining about being underfunded, but I'm sure running a couple of well-timed trains so people could get to sporting events and tourists could get at least from BWI to DC would not lose money. Naturally, you wouldn't need the full commuter schedule on Saturday, but it's asinine to act like people aren't at least going between the airport and downtown at those times. read more

Choo Choo... if you live outside of DC and want to beat the traffic this is the way to go! The MARC train, where ever you grab will most likly end up in Union station. The MARC system is pretty nice and they useally stick to the schedule. (meaning if your train leaves at 4:00 from Union Station, it will leave at 4:00, so be aware) I have ridden this to and from DC many many times now, too many to count and counting would just be tiring :) and each time I have had a decent expereince. Nothing crazy, I mean come on people its public transportation, what do you expect a driver and a limo??? haha Overall the whole thing is SUPER easy to figure out and understand and most everyone is very helpful if you do need help and can not get to a counter. 4 stars for the MARC train and I will def. be riding it soon! Choo Choo all aboard. note: make sure you do two things 1. wake up when its your stop!! (happened once already haha not fun!) and 2. if you station does not open all doors, then ASK. You dont want to be running down the train to figure out which doors opon for your stop. This means NOT all doors open for all stations, so beware. BWI is one where ALL the doors open. Tickets, tickets, tickets... read more

I love the MARC train, no bums, no tons of teenagers, it has a quiet car, and comfortable seats. Three different lines, Penn Line, Camden Line, And Brunswick line. The first two leave from Baltimore, from Penn Station and Camden Yards Baseball Park. The Last comes from Fredrick MD. Buy your tickets at the Kiosk or the Amtrak counter if available, there is a three dollar charge for purchase on the train. It does not run on weekends. Bummer! The Penn line is the most popular and runs up to 10pm at night. Camden and Brunswick line usually stop around 7pm. read more

You can't beat $6 for the trek from BWI to Union Station vs anywhere from $15-$40 or more on Amtrak. You don't get the same luggage space as Amtrak but you can make it work if you aren't packing for the Oregon Trail. Save your money and take the MARC if it fits your schedule. read more

Because the Marc Train is, at its core, a jobs program--not a transportation service, be prepared to be treated as the product, not the customer. Their current published schedule on their web site is, in old Washington-speak, "inoperative." And the holders of those holy jobs are unconcerned with the fact that the actual trains actually leave the actual stations BEFORE the time shown on the actual schedules. 'Not my job' is the order of the day. Caveat emptor. My advice is: until Maryland's government makes changes in the actual management of the MTA, pack a lunch and come early. And, because logic would indicate that not all schedule "inoperativities" are on the early side, allow for the possibility that you will arrive late. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln . . .. read more

I live in the DC metro and commute to Baltimore for work, and I love the convenience and comfort of taking the train instead of fighting the traffic. Yes, occasionally, it breaks down, but it's pretty reliable 95% of the time, and I figure the $150 monthly ticket from suburban DC to Penn Station is better than the parking cost in Baltimore, along with the car wear and tear, and the stress of dealing with traffic. Riders are pretty quiet for the most part, so you can enjoy reading, taking a nap, or doing something on your laptop/tablet, and arrive to your destination feeling relaxed. So yes, I am a fan, but a star is taken away for the surly attitude of many of the train conductors - the folks that take your tickets. I think if I wore a pretty dress and put on a damsel in distress persona, I'd probably receive much better, friendlier service. I remember first riding it, and asking questions on which train to board (the setup is confusing if you've never ridden it), and they all had this attitude like you are stupid and annoying. Really?? Stop that, and try some courtesy, will you? Finally, I have the option to ride the Penn Line or the Camden Line. The Penn Line seems better, quicker, and is much less to break down. And it is much nicer to arrive at an old-fashoned grand train station in Baltimore than a small, uninspiring terminal next to the ballpark that is deserted when the O's aren't playing. read more

So we are reviewing Metro stations now? OK, whatever. Here are some points about the Union Station Metro Stop: - It's on the Red Line - Escalators work 93% of the time - The trains are on time unless there's an issue with the Red Line, which is almost always - Platform is small so it can get crowded - Provides easy access to Union Station, with direct entrance to their massive Food Court read more

One of the best transit systems in the area. After using MARC to travel between Union Station and Baltimore on several occasions, I'd found it to be impressive. It's the little things that make the difference. MARC runs regularly during the day; the routes can take you pretty much across the entire state of Maryland; the trains are modern, clean and comfortable; and it manages to do so on the cheap. I take the VRE to work almost everyday and I can say that the MARC surpasses it in almost every way. Makes we want to move to Maryland. read more

Marc has horrible timing. They are ALWAYS running late and it is no surprise people hesitate before using it as a reliable method of transportation. read more

The MARC train is cool in the sense that having it is better than not having it. That said, it's great for getting to the airport or downtown Baltimore from DC... on weekdays. It's convenient, it's clean, and it's timely. Travel time to BWI from Union Station is just over half an hour. Add 20 minutes, and you'll be at Penn Station in downtown Baltimore. The only reason it doesn't get five stars is because it doesn't run on weekends. This means that if you're flying somewhere for a weekend, you can take it to the airport, but you can't take it back on Sunday. It also eliminates the possibility of a day trip to Baltimore on Saturdays or Sundays. I know they used to run on weekends, but it got scrapped due to budget problems (which I understand). This train will definitely get 5 stars from me if they ever reinstate that service. read more

So different from New York City's subways! Took a short train ride from Union Station to The Mayflower Hotel. Everyone behaved in an orderly fashion although there were no cops in plain sight. Recessed lights on the platform flash when the train is entering the station which is so much more efficient (and fun) than craning your neck to see an overhead arrival time clock. The ride was super smooth and fast. Will definitely leave the car alone use the Metro next time I'm in town to hit the tourist attractions and shopping areas. read more

Beforehand, I was dreading this train ride. I thought that it sucked to fly out of BWI, and that the trip there would be a pain in the ass. This is what I heard from friends; but the reality is, if you plan ahead it is easy. First of all, I slept over at my friend's house who lives by Union Station, with all my clothes on (I was coming home for Thanksgiving). That way I could just get up and walk to the station. I knew in advance that the MARC left at 8:45 and arrived at the station at 9:11. I bought my ticket at an automated kiosk, waited for five minutes, and next thing I knew, I was on my way... If you don't allow yourself time, this trip could be a real headache. Getting to Union Station is the hard part, and you are on your own for this leg...but once you get there the MARC train is a breeze. read more

Union station metro is a confusing place... There's pretty much no way on finding out which train is which... There is a customer service area every comer...but there is so many people and huge lines waiting for help and services... There is many trains going to to certain locations... You can purchase it online or at union station... I suggest you get tickets online since there is so many people you might be late or tired just waiting to try to purchase a ticket... There are Guards everywhere...but there not really helpfully...restrooms are hard to find... Pretty much hidden and lots of people use in it... Bathrooms are pretty disgusting....the waiting area is pretty clean so that's a plus. Tickets goes up with last minute purchase...so get your tickets fast!! read more

This is a typical government subsidized public transport commuter line that we took to Baltimore from Washington D.C.'s Union Station. The train cars are ok but not very clean or kept up. Most of the cars' windows were filthy as were the headrests and seats. I know because I used a sani wipe to clean the latter up. My biggest gripe about this train line is that our return train to D.C. failed to show up. Well, actually it did, but promptly left the station somewhat early without any passengers or an explanation as to why. Instead, we, along with several scores of other commuters were left waiting and wondering when or if a replacement train would show up. One did about an hour late, again without any explanation or apology. The public restroom on board is pretty disgusting. Not very clean with lots of wetness on the floor and around the sink. I've seen cleaner and drier porta potties. My wife and I both felt like we needed to take a shower after completing our round trip on this train. There are no on board services like food or drink and there are frequent stops along the way. It accomplished what we needed albeit in an untimely manner but it worked. By the way, we ended up back at the Metro Station nearest our hotel but we were too late to catch the last free shuttle so we had to hale a cab which cost almost $20. Public transportation in and around the greater D.C. area doesn't hold a candle to say New York or other more dependable systems. read more

This metro station sucks. The Union station itself is a four star, but the metro itself really bad. Its ok when the trains are on time but when the trains aren't on time and the platform gets crowded it gets scary. Afraid someone will fall off because its so small. There also a lot of pan handlers outside this station. Scary. read more

Penn line stays getting me to work late! Second time this week I waited over and hour (and its only Wednesday!!!!) and I get on at Seabrook, so when there is an issue, the trains by pass my station. Today I had to leave and go to Metro and am not happy. Metro no longer allows you to ride for free when there is an issue with Marc, so I have to pay for the fare and parking at Metro. Marc needs to do better. It is just not reliable. Many commuters are going to work and it is not acceptable to be getting people to work hours late!!!! read more

Worst place I've ever tried public transportation in my life. Not that I expect it to be fun or pretty or even cheap, this takes the cake on the most horrible experience I've ever had traveling underground. One: it IS extremely expensive. Two: the station managers/kiosk workers are horribly rude, at best. Three: It is so frustrating to be an tourist trying to buy a one-way fare, because you can't. Oh, and Four: they charge you when you leave and mark the price up... what?! There are truly few things that I will include the word "hate" with, but this is one of them. read more

While the metro staff are nice and their are a nice amount of metro transit police and Metropolitan police (aka DC police) there are an abundance of homeless people who hang around outside. The trains run fairly often since people are trying to catch Amtrak or Marc or VRE trains. With that being said watch out for the spot on the platforms because when they get wet they are super slippery. Other than that be careful and observant. read more

JUST DRIVE YOU ARE BETTER OFF! This is the worst train system in DC and likely America. It is always late consistently has mechanical failures. They screw their customers. When they are late the tell you "well it's the train". Why even have schedules it should be well we will see you when we see you. The conductors are very good the management sucks and screws them. read more

I love Union Station!! It's like a mall and station all in one. They have really great food and shopping options everything from Walgreens to Victoria's Secret and a plethora of boutiques and what not in between. It's also the home of one of my favorite women's clothing boutiques, Kashmir!! Kashmir Has some of the most unique and versatile pieces I have come across in my boutique shopping. I usually catch the MARC train to union station from The Perryville Maryland station. The trip is super comfortable and only cost $12.50 each way. It's an almost 2 hour ride versus driving to DC in a little over an hour but oh so convenient! read more

The Penn and Camden lines are always running late! Do not use MARC as a means of transportation if you're on a schedule. It is a complete waste of money because they're so unreliable. read more

I'm pretty sure this company has the most handy automated customer service phone line i've EVER called. if you have any questions, they'll be answered, just call that glorious 1-800-325-7245. this train makes my life more fun and convenient. if i had to use it daily to commute to work, i don't think i'd be one bit upset. read more

Having a metro station that takes you directly into a larger transit hub is an absolute must (I'm looking at you NYC...) these days, and I'm grateful for the option here in DC. The only train line that comes into the station is the Red Line, but you can transfer from most other lines onto the Red only a few stops away from Union Station. If you're heading to a secondary transit option, versus just commuting from work to home, give yourself extra time to navigate what can be a very crowded and somewhat confusing terminal. Lines for the escalator and to swipe out through the turnstiles can be brutal during peak times, so plan ahead if you know you have to catch a connecting Amtrak train or bus. read more

I have regularly commuted to this station since 2007. During rush hour this station handles a lot of traffic because the Amtrak and MARC regional trains also use Union Station (their gates are upstairs in Union Station proper, separate from the metro). Try to board the trains toward the center of the track, especially for six-car trains. Trains pull all the way to the end of the platform (at every other station, too) and usually there's a big crowd of people running to catch up and trying to cram in the last car. Note that if you want to buy a new SmartTrip card (a plastic, reloadable metro card), there is only one machine at this station, which is located at the First Street entrance. In early summer 2012 Metro instituted a fare hike where trips with paper farecards cost $1 more than trips with a SmartTrip card. The SmartTrip card costs $10 to buy; $5 buys the card and $5 is fare money preloaded on the card. So if you are going to be taking the metro (or a metro bus) more than five times while you're in Washington, save yourself money and get a SmartTrip card. There are machines to buy paper farecards and to add money to your SmartTrip card at both entrances. read more

Decent interior with no delays or issues on our 2 trips to and from, with easy connection to amtrak, Marc and ground transportation. read more

Union Station Metro - Train Stations Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm so glad that the MARC service from DC to Baltimore was available during my 5 years living in DC. Two of my closest friends live in Baltimore and it kept me sane to be able to spend the weekend in Baltimore once or twice a month to escape DC Life. The best part was the $8 trip, very affordable compared to the Amtrak. The evening and weekend schedule was always pretty reliable, though finding the schedule online was always a challenge. Once I dragged 10 of my friends to Baltimore for a bday day trip, and we were able to take make a roundtrip journey without any problems. The train is clean, the tickettakers are kind, and the journey is relaxing. Thanks MARC! read more