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The Potential for 
MARC/VRE RUN- THROUGH SERVICES 
A Summary Report Submitted to The Honorable Eugene Conti Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy U.S.Department of Transportation April 14, 1999 
Prepared by
De Leuw, Cather & Company
For 
 
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INTRODUCTION
Intercity passenger, commuter, and freight rail services are projected to significantly expand inthe Baltimore- Washington-Richmond corridor. Providing sufficient capacity to deal with all of the trains will become a critical issue. The improvements that would be necessary to permitincreased train frequencies, reduced trip times, and increased capacity have been identified in aseries of recent studies conducted by Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), andthe Washington Board of Trade. These studies included:
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the New York to Washington Corridor Transportation Plan,
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the Washington to Richmond Corridor Transportation Plan, and
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the MARC/VRE Run-Through Service StudyIn the Corridor Transportation Plan (CTP) studies, Amtrak and the FRA have been consideringthe larger issues of reducing travel time and increasing capacity. Higher-speed trains will soon beintroduced in Amtrak's Boston-New York-Washington service, while the frequency of commuterand freight trains increases. Amtrak's new effort to develop mail and express business stands togreatly increase the level of switching activity, thus further taxing the already-limited capacity atWashington Union Station and in other terminals. Freight train operations have been steadilyincreasing, and this trend is expected to accelerate as a result of the Conrail Acquisition.Capacity must be increased to reduce trip times and achieve service reliability. Improvements topermit reduced trip times and improved capacity will enable the high-speed service to beoperated reliably without adversely affecting, or being delayed by, the increasing number of frequently stopping commuter trains and the long freight trains.In addition to the analysis of train operations in the New York-Washington and Washington-Richmond Corridors, CTP studies included separate analyses of train operations andimprovement requirements at:
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Washington Union Station
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Between Washington Union Station and Alexandria, VA, and
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The approaches to, and through, Richmond’s Main Street StationThe CTPs are being prepared by Amtrak and the FRA, at the request of Congress, to considersignificant improvements necessary to raise speeds and expand capacity throughout the twoCorridors and at Washington Union Station. Computer simulations have identified the additionalfacilities that the implementation of the projected increases in all of the services would require.
 
2Under the auspices of the City of Richmond, with the assistance of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT), a plan is also underway for the development of anextension of Amtrak service from Staples Mill to downtown Richmond, and the reopening of Main Street Station. This extension of service also is discussed in the Washington-RichmondCTP.Freight enhancement requirements have been analyzed in the CTPs and independently evaluatedby CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS). Both carriers anticipate increased levels of freight trafficfollowing the completion of the Conrail Acquisition
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. The Acquisition will bring an increase inthe number of freight trains operating over all of the lines where MARC and VRE operate,including the Amtrak Northeast Corridor (Penn Line). CSX is planning to upgrade the criticalline segment connecting the Richmond Corridor to the former B&O main line betweenBrunswick and Baltimore (Camden). This includes an upgrading of the Virginia AvenueTunnel, in Southeast Washington, D.C.; improving the connection between the former Conrailand CSX freight lines at Anacostia; and possibly double-tracking the balance of the segment toHyattsville.The results of the studies, the projected levels of traffic, and the recommended improvements aredescribed below. A summary of the major capital costs is shown in Table 2.
The MARC/VRE Run-Through Service Study
A recently completed study,
Coordination of MARC/VRE Commuter Services, AConceptual Design
, analyzed the possibility of implementing a run-through service forcommuters in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. The study was coordinated with theother study efforts and identified significant benefits that the extension of Maryland's MARC andVirginia's VRE trains, through Union Station to destinations in each other's service areas, wouldprovide. For the first time, a seamless ride would be offered, without the need to change trains,when traveling from one part of the region to the other. The substantial benefits from integratingcommuter rail services include:
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Enhancing convenience by eliminating transfers between trains;
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Reducing travel time;
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Improving air quality and reducing highway congestion by reducing automobile-based trips;
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Improving utilization of each operator’s trains; and
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Strengthening the economic vitality of the regionShort and long-term solutions for integrating the service of MARC and VRE were evaluated.
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Norfolk Southern will gain Conrail's operating rights between Alexandria, VA and Baltimore
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