Rail Transportation Links & Resources

Amtrak
America's only national passenger rail system. "Created by the federal government to take over the nation's intercity passenger rail services, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) initiated operations on May 1, 1971." "Nationwide, Amtrak trains serve 45 states, [all US states] except Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, South Dakota and Wyoming." Tickets may be purchased at Union Station, Amtrak's Travel Center (1721 K St. NW), New Carrollton (MD) station or Alexandria (VA) station.

Arlington Transportation Partners
A FREE service for Arlington employers and residential communities provided by Arlington County Commuter services.

Baltimore Region Transit Plan
MTA Maryland is taking the lead in studying two priority sections of the Baltimore Region Transit Plan: the Green Line, extending today's Metro Subway from Johns Hopkins Hospital to Northeast Baltimore near Morgan State University, and the Red Line, a new transit line, between Woodlawn and Patterson Park.

Capital Beltway Rail Study
DRPT has officially concluded the Capital Beltway Corridor Rail Feasibility Study. The study included the feasibility of constructing rail from the existing mass transit facilities at Springfield connecting to the mass transit rail facilities at or near Tysons Corner. The study will also examine extending rail beyond Tysons Corner into Maryland. The Final Report was issued on April 6, 2001.

CommuterDirect.com™
Provides online sales of tickets and passes for the MARC and VRE commuter rail services, as well as other transit systems in the Washington, D.C. area. Offers SmartBenefits personal accounts to use SmartBenefits to purchase MARC and VRE tickets and passes.

The Commuter Store™
Can assist in making your commute on MARC and VRE commuter rail easy and convenient by providing tickets, tokens and passes, as well as schedules, maps, and other information about commuter rail.

Maryland Transit Administration
The official web site for MARC, Maryland's commuter rail service. The MTA provides a network of transit and rail and freight services throughout Maryland in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner that supports the economy and the environment.

Metra
Northeast Illinois commuter rail system. The 495-mile Metra system serves 230 stations in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, McHenry and Kane.

Metrochek
Both VRE and MARC accept Metrochek, the farecard voucher provided as an employee benefit by many Washington, D.C. area employers, including the federal government.

SmartBenefits and Commuter Rail
Apply SmartBenefits to MARC and VRE fares online at CommuterDirect.com or at any of the three Arlington locations of The Commuter Store.

Trainweb.com
"Information and photographs relating to passenger, freight and model trains in the U.S. and Worldwide plus items of interest to the professional rail industry."

VIA Rail Canada
"VIA operates trains in all regions of Canada over a network stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay."

Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
The official web site for VRE, northern Virginia's commuter rail service. .