Can anyone help me figure out how to get to Baltimore from Elkton by train to go to work?

Question

I will be working at 250 W. Pratt St, Baltimore and I can't seem to coordinate just how to get there. HELP!!!

Answer 1

Check out the note at the end of Bob's post.  Apparently, after 4 June, if I remember the date correctly, MARC will resume normal service beyond Aberdeen to Perryville in Cecil County.  Perryville is currently the normal terminal station on MARC's Penn Line (the line used to be the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad).

Be aware there is talk at MTA of eventually extending Penn Line service to Elkton, specifically as a response to the new jobs going into Aberdeen Proving Ground as a result of the base re-alignment program.. You might want to contact your state legislators about that.  It would suit you perfectly.

BTW, I would rather use Penn Station than West Baltimore station as your Baltimore station.  Quite frankly, the West Baltimore station is not in the best part of town if you know what I mean, whereas Penn Station is the main railroad station for Baltimore and is located at the northern end of central Baltimore.

There are plenty of local MTA buses connecting Penn Station with downtown. When you walk out the front door of Penn Station, turn left and walk one minute over to St. Paul Street.  There is a bus stop right there to serve Penn Station. (BTW, St. Paul Street is one-way southbound there, so you don't have to worry about what direction to go).

There is plenty of local MTA bus service connecting Penn Station to downtown.  Just ask someone at the stop, they are usually pretty friendly about helping.

Get off at Pratt Street, a cross street 18 blocks south of Penn Station along St. Paul Street. Lombard Street is the cross street right before you reach Pratt Street. Look for the Legg Mason tower on your right side.

From there, you are 3 blocks from your destination. You need to walk west on Pratt Street.

To go home, take a northbound bus on Charles Street. Ride the 18 blocks up to Penn Station.

All of this will become very easy for you once you do it a couple times. You'll know exactly when your stop is coming up because you'll get to recognize the sequence of every lean and bounce of the bus.  You''ll be able to do it in your sleep.  Believe me!  Good luck. You are lucky to work so close to the beautiful Inner Harbor.  I miss it much.  (I live in Europe now).

Answer 2

Drive to Aberdeen MARC station and hop on a southbound MARC train.  Exit at West Baltimore (the station sits in the median of a major city street and shortened expressway) and walk across Franklin St. to take the #40 bus Eastbound.  Get off the bus at City Hall (Baltimore and Guilford) and you're pretty much 2-4 blocks away from your office.

When you leave work, walk back to Fayette and Guilford and take the #40 bus westbound from Fayette St. and get off at West Baltimore station.  Take the next MARC train to Aberdeen and drive back to Elkton.  The trip should take you no more than 90 minutes each way.

Alternately, you could get off at Penn Station and hop on the light rail which will drop you off first at Univ. of Baltimore / Mt. Royal and then take any Southbound train to Convention Center.  Walk about 5 blocks to your office.  Both the bus and light rail operate at 15 minute intervals.  The bus sounds like a better option to me.

{EDIT} I debated with myself between Penn Station and West Baltimore.  I ride the #40 bus and I know that bus stops 2 blocks north of where the asker is going.  The #40 comes every 15 minutes and has a better on-time performance.  The #11 goes down Maryland Ave.; The #3 goes down St. Paul St and the #36 goes down Guilford Ave to Fayette St..  The problem with those 3 buses is that they are not as reliable as the #40.  If the asker gets off at  Penn Station - he's better off taking the Light Rail and walking a number of blocks.  If the asker gets off at West Baltimore, the #40 bus will have him to his destination in 15 minutes plus any time needed to wait.  Gentrification is beginning to reach the West Baltimore station area and the neighborhood is much safer today (even at night) compared to when Herx lived in the Baltimore area.