Traveling between Baltimore City and Montgomery County is about to get easier, as the MARC Train is expanding service with a direct weekday connection starting on Monday, Sept. 28. The Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is adding the option for commuters to give them a fast, transfer-free ride. Easing transportation woes for Marylanders has been a priority of the Moore-Miller administration. “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. “Baltimore and Montgomery County are home to millions of residents as well as, major employers, educational institutions and medical centers. Providing a direct link between these communities will help build a stronger and more sustainable Maryland.” This is the first service that will provide riders a direct connection between Rockville, Gaithersburg, College Park, Laurel and Baltimore. MTA adjusted existing service to create the new connection without adding anything to their annual operating costs. MARC estimates the service will reduce commute times by up to 60 minutes. With the new service, a MARC train ride from Silver Spring to Baltimore Camden Station would take 57 minutes. Currently, it takes 118 minutes. Riding from Germantown to College Park takes 90 minutes now, but with the new service it will take only around 45 minutes. Riding the MARC from Gaithersburg to Baltimore Camden Station is expected to be reduced from 137 minutes to 78 minutes. With the addition of this service, rail times will be competitive with drive times between these destinations. The new train route will directly connect Brunswick, Point of Rocks, Barnesville, Germantown, Metropolitan Grove, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Kensington, Silver Spring, College Park, Laurel, and Baltimore. One train will travel to Baltimore in the morning, and one will return in the evening. Changes to several Brunswick and Camden line trains will make this new service route possible. New timetables for both the Camden line and the Brunswick line are available now. ...read more read less