Delays, cancellations and crowding are a way of life aboard Maryland's MARC Penn Line, but crowding has been worse than usual the past three weeks as the Maryland Transit Administration has struggled to round up enough locomotives to pull its trains.
The main problem is that six of MARC's 10 electric locomotives are out of commission - forcing the use of less powerful diesel engines that can pull fewer rail cars, said MTA spokeswoman Jawauna Greene. The underlying issue: MARC's entire locomotive fleet is decades old.
Crowding aside, MARC's locomotive troubles have not caused any additional commuter train delays or cancellations, Greene says.
But many beleaguered MARC riders are unhappy.
Source:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bal-md.cm.marc17sep17,0,6057193.story