MDOT MTA to Expand, Modernize MARC Storage Facilities at Martin Maintenance Yard

Expanding storage capacity at the rail yard, the agency says, “is a key component to delivering more frequent service that better serve existing, changing and new travel markets” as outlined in the MARC Growth and Transformation Plan (download below).

The project scope includes increased storage capacity for MARC Trains at the Martin Maintenance Yard (located near Martin State Airport), new tracks with catenary electrification, crossover tracks, a new inspection pit, and equipment that includes water hydrants, air piping extensions and light fixtures to support train car maintenance. The yard and shop improvements are needed to support the MTA’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 set to begin later this fall, with completion slated for summer 2027, according to the agency. It is supported by a discretionary grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.

“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.”