Information please.

[jg greenwood]

Please enlighten an ignorant Mid-westerner;what mode of transit does DC employ? Light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail? Thanks for any info.

[orangeline]

Having spent several months in the DC area recently I can tell you they have an extensive heavy rail Metro (5 lines) linking the Maryland and Virginia suburbs with DC. There are also 2 commuter rail systems, MARC to Maryland and West Virginia, and VRE to Virginia. Then there's also frequent Amtrak electric service along the NE Corridor to Phila, NYC, and Boston to the northeast and less frequent diesel-powered service in all other directions. MARC, VRE and Amtrak all originate their DC runs from Union Station (a stop on the Metro Red Line).

[jg greenwood]

Having spent several months in the DC area recently I can tell you they have an extensive heavy rail Metro (5 lines) linking the Maryland and Virginia suburbs with DC. There are also 2 commuter rail systems, MARC to Maryland and West Virginia, and VRE to Virginia. Then there's also frequent Amtrak electric service along the NE Corridor to Phila, NYC, and Boston to the northeast and less frequent diesel-powered service in all other directions. MARC, VRE and Amtrak all originate their DC runs from Union Station (a stop on the Metro Red Line).

Thanks for the info!

[walt]

Just a little more on the DC system---DC's Metrorail system is of relatively recent vintage, the first segment having opened in 1974. This is a typical third rail powered rapid transit ( subway, surface, & elevated, though the "elevated" stations are called areal stations). The commuter lines mentioned operate over the rails of intercity carriers ( Amtrak rails and CSX rails)--there is no trackage actually owned by MARC and VRE. Between the end of streetcars ( 1/28/62) and the opening of Metrorail, and the establishment of the commuter service now operated by MARC ( VRE is of more recent vintage), DC was an all bus town. At present there is no light rail, but there are several proposals for new light rail lines in the area. Right now, if you want to ride Light Rail, you have to go to Baltimore.