MARC Brunswick Line Schedule Change Proposal

MTA MARC released a proposed schedule change to the Brunswick Line on December 1, 2011 and invited public review and comment.

1. Why is the Brunswick Line schedule being changed?

2. When is the proposed schedule being implemented?

3. Where did the proposed schedule come from?

4. What is the net effect of the schedule changes?

5. Where can you comment on the proposed schedule?

1. Why is the Brunswick Line Schedule being changed?

• Increased ridership in the last ten years, especially at Brunswick, Point of Rocks, Germantown and Gaithersburg, greatly increased the time passengers take to board the trains.
• To reduce between train delays when the preceding train is going slow.
• To allow the operating crew to get its full Federal Railroad Administration-mandated time off between shifts.

2. When is the proposed schedule being implemented?

Original target date: January 30, 2012.

On 12/22/11, based on customer feedback, MTA will not propose a new date until it has evaluated all passenger feedback and re-run the CSX simulations. MTA says it will post a second draft schedule for public comment.

3. Where did the proposed schedule come from?

Since CSX owns and operates the Brunswick Line rails, MTA worked with CSX’s simulation software to draft the proposed schedule. It is not clear what people-related information (vs. freight) was or was not included in the computer models.

4. What is the net effect of the schedule changes?

MTA does not provide a total change summary for the proposed schedule.

To determine the full impact, I created my own Before and After comparison chart by hand. The total station changes are 64* with 14 more stops being skipped than added. Seven of the nine morning trains arrive at their final destination later. All evening trains arrive at their final destination later. The bigger issue is some stops will have a later first train (late to work) and/or an earlier last train (can’t get home).

*These numbers do not reflect the individual time changes at each stop.

5. Where can you comment on the proposed schedule?

MTA MARC staff are listening to rider feedback. Check the new schedule yourself then fill out their short survey to express your concerns or agreement.

Direct links:

View the 12/1/11 Draft Schedule

http://www.mta.maryland.gov/advisories/marc-brunswick-line-schedule-change-proposal

Comment on the 12/1/11 Draft Schedule – MTA Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8VGDLYL