Following unanimous approval from the Board of Public Works last week, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration will begin construction to expand and modernize the MARC train storage facilities at the Martin Maintenance Yard in Baltimore County. 

Expanding storage capacity at the rail yard is a key component in delivering more frequent service that better serves existing, changing, and new travel markets, as outlined in the MARC Growth and Transformation Plan.

“Investing in our rail infrastructure today ensures we can deliver improved service in the future,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “It is a critical element in our goal to transform MARC Train from a commuter rail to a regional rail service.”

MARC Train Expansion

The project scope includes increasing storage capacity for MARC Trains at the Martin Maintenance Yard, as well as new tracks with catenary electrification, crossover tracks, a new inspection pit, and equipment such as hydrants, air piping extensions, and light fixtures to support train car maintenance. 

The yard and shop improvements are needed to support the Maryland Transit Administration’s future commitment to operate electrified trainsets on the Penn Line following the completion of Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel. The Martin Maintenance Yard project also supports Amtrak’s redevelopment of Penn Station — plans that require an alternative to Penn Station as a storage area, where many MARC trains are currently located when not in service.

The $35 million investment in improvements and increased capacity for the Martin Maintenance Yard is scheduled to begin later this fall, with completion anticipated by summer 2027. It is supported by a discretionary grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program.