Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP you realize this thread is from 2 years ago? I don't know why the PP above you found this old thread and responded.

I'm the PP just above, and yes, I realize it's an old thread. But I still like to mention my experience because I think it's helpful for anyone who might be considering moving to Baltimore for cheaper housing.

Don't get me wrong, there are things I love about Baltimore. But I wish I had asked people about the commute before I moved there. When you read the train schedules and read about MARC, it makes it sound not so bad. But I hated it. And it was a lot of hassle for us to move. I wish I had taken more trial runs or rented before buying so I would know if the commute worked.

My SIL did the commute for 5 years without problem. Sure there was an occasional train issue (missed it/came late/etc) but overall she loved it. She drove to MARC, metro to Union Station and then to Gallery Place and then couple minute walk to work. She became friends with several MARC commuters and they all started to sit together regularly. She left that job 5 years ago and doesn't ride MARC anymore but she's still friends with several of her MARC train buddies.

But you've never done the commute yourself.

The train issues weren't "occasional" when I took them.

I commute 3x week to Metro Center from Baltimore. I am the DW. I would not do it 5x or even 4x week. It is a long commute, 13 hours day (leave at 7, get home about 730) but because it is only 3 days it is manageable.

My neighbor commutes too. Her firm paid for Amtrak tickets which saved some time vs. MARC, but it makes it really difficult on the spouse, who basically only has help on the weekends. Getting home at 730 is too late to be any help with dinner or kid routine, since after being gone since dawn you basically just want to come in a get a glass of wine. She also never got to do the school parties and pageants unless she took the whole day off work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP you realize this thread is from 2 years ago? I don't know why the PP above you found this old thread and responded.

I'm the PP just above, and yes, I realize it's an old thread. But I still like to mention my experience because I think it's helpful for anyone who might be considering moving to Baltimore for cheaper housing.

Don't get me wrong, there are things I love about Baltimore. But I wish I had asked people about the commute before I moved there. When you read the train schedules and read about MARC, it makes it sound not so bad. But I hated it. And it was a lot of hassle for us to move. I wish I had taken more trial runs or rented before buying so I would know if the commute worked.

My SIL did the commute for 5 years without problem. Sure there was an occasional train issue (missed it/came late/etc) but overall she loved it. She drove to MARC, metro to Union Station and then to Gallery Place and then couple minute walk to work. She became friends with several MARC commuters and they all started to sit together regularly. She left that job 5 years ago and doesn't ride MARC anymore but she's still friends with several of her MARC train buddies.

Anonymous wrote:PP you realize this thread is from 2 years ago? I don't know why the PP above you found this old thread and responded.

I'm the PP just above, and yes, I realize it's an old thread. But I still like to mention my experience because I think it's helpful for anyone who might be considering moving to Baltimore for cheaper housing.

Don't get me wrong, there are things I love about Baltimore. But I wish I had asked people about the commute before I moved there. When you read the train schedules and read about MARC, it makes it sound not so bad. But I hated it. And it was a lot of hassle for us to move. I wish I had taken more trial runs or rented before buying so I would know if the commute worked.

My husband has done this for 3 years BUT we live in Catonsville so his train time is 20 min less each way and gets free parking at BWI and he can walk to his office from union station. It's an hour door to door. I would not do it living in Roland park. Your kids will never see their dad

Anonymous wrote:Commuter here, DC to Baltimore. Stop the judging, folks. I looked for a job in DC for THREE YEARS. Found one in Baltimore. Am not moving for now, my life, including my child, is in DC. Lots of people commute.

I drive. It's faster and the same price as the train. If I lived closer to Union Station or if my office was closer to Penn Station, I'd MARC it up. MARC is great as backup during inclement weather.

I wasn't judging anyone. I was just describing my experience. People can take it or leave it, but I hated commuting from Baltimore to DC on the MARC. How is stating that somehow judging you? And not to mention, you have a reverse commute, which is a different animal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Commuter here, DC to Baltimore. Stop the judging, folks. I looked for a job in DC for THREE YEARS. Found one in Baltimore. Am not moving for now, my life, including my child, is in DC. Lots of people commute.

I drive. It's faster and the same price as the train. If I lived closer to Union Station or if my office was closer to Penn Station, I'd MARC it up. MARC is great as backup during inclement weather.

DC to Baltimore is MUCH easier than Baltimore to DC!

This is definitely true, not just driving but also on MARC. I'm the PP who commuted Baltimore to DC for 2 years. The trains aren't as crowded in the opposite direction during rush hour (i.e. d.c. going to baltimore in the AM and baltimore going to dc in the pm), so the experience isn't as bad.

Anonymous wrote:Commuter here, DC to Baltimore. Stop the judging, folks. I looked for a job in DC for THREE YEARS. Found one in Baltimore. Am not moving for now, my life, including my child, is in DC. Lots of people commute.

I drive. It's faster and the same price as the train. If I lived closer to Union Station or if my office was closer to Penn Station, I'd MARC it up. MARC is great as backup during inclement weather.

DC to Baltimore is MUCH easier than Baltimore to DC!

Commuter here, DC to Baltimore. Stop the judging, folks. I looked for a job in DC for THREE YEARS. Found one in Baltimore. Am not moving for now, my life, including my child, is in DC. Lots of people commute.

I drive. It's faster and the same price as the train. If I lived closer to Union Station or if my office was closer to Penn Station, I'd MARC it up. MARC is great as backup during inclement weather.

PP you realize this thread is from 2 years ago? I don't know why the PP above you found this old thread and responded.

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. I do. It's horrible. Biggest mistake I ever made. The commute will kill your husband early, so if you like him, visit your family on weekends from DC

I used to commute from Baltimore to DC every day. I didn't have to use metro (just penn station to union station and then walk to work). and even then, I only lasted 2 years.

The biggest problem is the train delays. It was fine when everything ran on schedule, but there was usually a major delay at least once a week, worse in the summer because of the heat. The trains are ALWAYS packed. There is something particularly horrible about being stuck for 45 minutes on a packed train with no AC in the middle of summer. Even worse is the sense of dread you have the next day that it might happen again.

It's a shame that the trains aren't more reliable, because honestly, I would have lasted longer if it weren't for the regular delays and the constant miscommunication about the delays. But MARC doesn't seem to care about the delays.

And as for the "express" trains, they kept tweaking with the schedule and adding stops to those trains, which made them less "express" than they were. They would also frequently get stuck behind a delayed regular train.

Don't do it. I do. It's horrible. Biggest mistake I ever made. The commute will kill your husband early, so if you like him, visit your family on weekends from DC

I did that exact commute (actually not quite as long--I was going from Guilford to Dupont Circle) and I only lasted 2 years. It is fine when everything goes okay. It SUCKS when the trains are late, the Metro breaks down, etc. The MARC is often delayed, especially in the summer when the temperature rises about 80 and they have to slow the trains down, the rails over heat, etc. Also, even 50 minutes for the MARC with no problems is a low estimate. I think even the express trains take >55 minutes these days and that doesn't include the time walking to the platform, etc. It all adds up.

I really wouldn't set yourselves up for that long term.

And does your time estimate include time to park at Marc train, waiting for train (even though you would be 10 minutes away from the station, he would need to leave more than 10 minutes before the train arrival time. then add in time waiting for Metro -- sounds awful to do every day. Can he telecommute?

3+ hours commuting every day? Sounds pretty soul-sucking to me.