MTA Light Rail

So, yes, there’s light rail here. It’s got some things going for it. For one thing, it goes places you want to go, from the airport through some free park-​and-​rides, to the Inner Harbor, sporting arenas, university system, various downtown attractions, and out the other side all the way to the small regional airport. And it links up well with the underground metro and the MARC. And those fares are cheap, and it is indeed that you buy a ticket and are on the honor system unless someone checks (unlikely on any given occasion).
I found the online train tracker accurate, and the trains run late hours (albeit not late enough for me to countenance staying for a 13 inning Orioles game).
And the passengers… well, you’d better have a thick skin. People blaring music on loudspeakers and threatening fights, haphazard eating and drinking on the train, this kind of stuff that does not happen that much on the DC metro. On my late night trip out, someone threw a rock at the train, which had the (presumably desired effect) of creeping all the non-​locals out. Charm City indeed.

On the weekends unless there’s an event at Oriole Park or M&T Bank Stadium, its empty. My tip if you go to a sporting event is go one stop north if possible after the game to avoid the crowd. They should start running the trains on Sundays earlier than 10;30 am, they could get people who want to go to church if they did, also the tailgating crowd at Ravens games. If an O’s game runs late, say an hour after closing they keep it open and the MTA pays for it, does the Washington Metro? Not exactly. And they have dedicated funding, so its either a flat fare of 1.70 each way or if you transfer $ 4 for a day pass and they take the DC Smarttrip cards, since down there, they accept the Charm Card, only gripe is you have to either validate it each way at the vending machine or buy a day pass.

The best way to get around. Clean and efficient and felt there was a lot of authority present which is nice and for 1.60 $ you cannot go wrong

I love visiting cities that have light rail. It’s so much easier than dealing with a rental car to gas it up, park it, keep the keys, all of that nonsense. This city, on the other hand, has extremely easy transport right from the airport to downtown with connections also to the subway, Amtrak and the local commuter rail. Super awesome.
The train was comfortable enough with seating forward and back and facing the sides. They do have handicap access, which is useful because those four steps from the platform up into the train are very steep.
$ 1.70 for a one-​way ticket is a pretty solid deal. I have no complaint for the price.

The Light Rail is a really efficient way to travel North –South from the County and the City and even beyond. For the most part the stops allows access to a variety of areas, if not close by to other MTA Buses to take you the rest of the way.
I would suggest it if you are looking for an easy way to get around without worrying about a car.

I ride the Light Rail to work nearly every day. It’s great when everything works… but when it doesn’t, it’s a nightmare. Since the entire system seems fragile, nightmares happen more often then not.
After a few rides, it becomes clear that the scheduled stop times are only suggestions. Occasional delays are understandable, but now that most stops are equipped with loudspeaker systems, the MTA should give passengers updates on estimated arrival times, instead of just blaring pre-​recorded messages about thieves targeting tablets and smart phones. (We get it. Really.) This communication is critical during the morning and evening rush hour, when said delays and interruptions tend to be more common than at any other times of day.
The MTA website is supposed to post alerts on «minor» and «major» delays, but these updates rarely occur in real time, and there is a lot of room for interpretation as to the difference between «minor» and «major.» After riding the light rail for a few years, it seems that a major delay indicates that part, or all, of the system is shut down, and everything else (delays from 30 minutes up to an hour or more) is «minor.» Pardon me if I disagree.
When it comes to delays, it seems there are too many opportunities for something to go wrong for the system to run effectively. What can happen? Since trains run on the street in downtown Baltimore, any obstructions, traffic back-​ups, or car accidents, pose a threat. I’ve also witnessed idiots driving on the tracks. Power outages are also common. They happen at random more often than not, but high winds and hard rain tend to bring them on. Outages typically last only a few minutes, but when it happens it’s always cause for concern as to whether you’ll end up stranded in the middle of nowhere.
The drivers are, for the most part, polite and professional… if a bit heavy-​footed on the brakes.
As for the trains themselves, the entire fleet is in need of major renovations and/​or replacements. They feel like they’re about to fall apart at any moment, and some of them produce dissonant mechanical noises that are a bit worrisome.
It’s incomprehensible to me that they are working to expand the system with this so-​called «Red Line» instead of repairing the existing system.
Tickets are cheap, but I would happily pay much more for improved service.
In closing: the MTA tries, but there is so much room for improvement.

Apparently no overnight parking. Didn’t see any sign indicating this nor saw it on their web-​page after extensive search. Also called the MTA police and various other departments. They assumed I know this… how would I if I just moved and rarely ever use the light rail? Found out this unwritten rule through a summons ticket.
Second, very shady at night. Do not go alone before dawn and after dusk. There was a recent shooting at the Timonium location during rush hour, so be on guard ALL the time!

As someone who takes the light rail every day to and from work, and has previously lived in another city with better public transit, I can say I’ve seen a lot better in other cities and I think the light rail could make a lot of changes to improve it’s service.
Let me start first with the bad (bad news before good news right?)
–My first and biggest complaint as a daily rider is the amount of rudeness from other passengers and the fact that none of the staff does anything about it. We have people playing their radios or phones or computers without head phones, people screaming at each other across the car or into the cell phones when they are on calls, people eating food and leaving their trash and I have even seen one person on occasion smoking… in the car… i informed the conductor and they did nothing about it. Let me say that it’s a toss up each day if I can actually manage to get any reading done amongst the screaming and stereos.
–Secondly the hours kind of suck, especially if you want to stay out late or get things done on Sunday. The train doesn’t even start until 11am on Sunday… why? I have no idea it should start earlier and the last train hitting all the stations leaves at 7:45. It seems way too early to me.
Okay now the good news.
–The fare is a good price for what you get. $ 1.60 one way $ 64 for a monthly pass. The is the price I would expect to pay for this kind of service but I would gladly pay more if they could ensure a more pleasant experience and bus schedules that ran on time. Can you say quiet car please!
–15 minute intervals, hey not bad, I would prefer 5 but it’s better than any bus here in Baltimore, and for the most part the light rail runs on time.
— Ticket checker staff is for the most part cheerful and pleasant! And I love the conductor the sings «Cold Spring-​ing-​ing-​ing-​ing»
Step up your game MTA and I’m certain you would get more ridership!

We took Amtrack from Newak to Baltimore to see the Ravens-​Giants game in December and the plan was to buy day passes for the MTA Light Rail so we could easily get to/​from the Inner Harbor area without having to deal with a cab. SO we get to Baltimore Penn Station and buy 4 day passes for the Light Rail… not too expensive, like $ 3.50 each. Except NO ONE EVER CHECKED OUR DAMN TICKETS. Could have ridden for free.
Anyway, we miss the first one leaving the station and had to wait around since it was a Sunday… whatever, we hopped the next one and it got is down to the Inner Harbor in time for lunch (Mmmm Phillips was awesome). Great start… but here was the problem-​when we left the game we walked back over to the Inner Harbor to pick it back up and head back to Penn Station. There is no schedule anywhere, and we stood around for over an hour-​first we had no trains come by that were going to Penn Station so we tried to find a cab… big mistake because there wasn’t one to be had. SO we scramble back to the same stop praying the correct train would come by and after an hour of worrying about getting to our train back home the correct Light Rail train FINALLY arrived.
I love Baltimore, but I don’t think it’s too much to ask to have a friggin’ schedule up for the trains. I’m sure it’s convenient on a normal day, and we DID get to Penn Station on time but damn… what a mess it was for us.
Don’t know that I would use this option again… Never felt unsafe like some of the other Unilocalers, and it was very clean, but maybe we were just lucky to have picked it up at good times.

Pro-​Tip.
If you’re gonna be riding the Light Rail with any sort of frequency (more than twice/​year) you really need to invest in a Charm Card and here’s why.
You only need to pay for your trip when the MTA police ask for your ticket. If you buy paper tickets then you always need one to ride just in case the police board the train. If you have a Charm Card just sit on it. No cops? no pay. If and when they do board just pull out the card and they will scan it and take a one-​way fare from it. BAM! Never buy that «just in case» ticket again.

Well, it doesn’t get much better than 15 minute headways, $ 1.60 CASH rides, and $ 3.50 day passes, and simple pedestrian transfers.

Maybe it’s because I’m a Baltimore native and «used to it» here, but I don’t find the Light Rail at all frightening or scary. Sure, there’s a lot of sketch surroundings (especially at certain stops), but I’ve found that if you leave people alone, they’ll return the courtesy. It might be polite if you don’t stare at them like they’re from outer space — a lot of tourists seem to do just that. You’re asking for problems, just saying.
With that said, here’s what I know about the Light Rail, being that I ride it every single day:
— If there’s an accident of any kind on the tracks, you may as well find another mode of transportation. Trains will not run, it’s as simple as that. Delays last hours on end. Unfortunately, the Baltimore public transport system is laid out to cause as many headaches as possible. A simple 20 minute trip from downtown to Lutherville on the Light Rail will turn into an epic 2 hour failure on the #8 bus.
— It’s pretty inconvenient to major routes such as Charles Street or St. Paul, because Howard Street runs parallel to both; there’s no equivalent east-​west option to get from one street to the next. I might want to ride the Circulator and then pick up the Light Rail, but it’s not happening without a goodish walk to one or the other at most stops. Not smart, MTA.
— The hours suck. I can’t put it plainer than that. Weekday hours end at around midnight, weekends around 11pm unless there’s a special event going on. Sundays, forget it — it runs from 11am to about 8pm, generally. That’s not convenient for anyone that works late or wants to stay out and enjoy nightlife. You’re better off taking your car.
— This system does somewhat run on «good faith»; it’s tightened up considerably in the last couple of years, though fare inspectors are still few and far between. It’s rare that you’ll get fined by a fare inspector if you’re caught without a ticket — usually they’ll just throw you off the train and give you a warning (they’re mindful that a lot of tourists don’t know what the hell they’re doing and don’t know how to operate the ticket machines — we don’t want to piss off our only good source of revenue, boys and girls). If you DO get fined, it’s a staggering 500 bucks — so I wouldn’t risk it.
— The fare inspector on the early morning run (4−6am) is a sweetheart. She’s the pretty blonde lady on the CharmCard posters. Say hello if you see her — she’s really nice.
— A lot of people now have those «CharmCard» things — similar to the D.C. metro. Just because you don’t see people actually at the ticket machines doesn’t mean they haven’t paid, so that’s a bit presumptuous. Also, if you have a monthly MARC ticket, those are also accepted as fare paid on all Light Rail, bus systems and subway, so no need to buy an extra fare. (Your D.C. SmarTrip card WILL NOT WORK in the Baltimore machines, so don’t bother to try. You’ll just ruin the card and have to buy a new one.)
— For right now, it’s 3.50 for an all-​day pass, which is really the most economical option unless you purchase monthly fares. However, be warned — it’s likely the fare will increase dramatically, and soon. There’s been no fare increase in Baltimore for at least 10 years and we’re WAY behind schedule for one.
— Some trains are cleaner than others. The ones with the Maryland flag on the side and the blue-​and-​white color scheme are the rattiest ones, while the ones with the aqua and green waves are the newest. Really, it’s public transportation, not a taxi service. If you’re concerned about cleanliness, wear gloves and don’t sit down. Sheesh.
— Some of the rail stations are in desperate need of safety lighting and video cameras. Be aware of your surroundings, ALWAYS — this is Baltimore, not Mayberry.
— During Ravens games (the Orioles not so much, haha), there isn’t going to be a seat in the house. You may not even be able to get on. And if you’re a Steelers fan, God help you.
This has been your moment of clarity.

First off, for anyone who thinks that riding the MTA is scary you’re a big wuss.
Try some SEPTA subway love in Philly at night or try walking through the bowels of Suburban Station in Philly all while smelling the smells, seeing the sights, and taking note of «the locals» and you guys will realize that you have a Cadillac of a transit system compared to Philly’s Yugo.
After going from Hunt Valley to the Convention Center a few times it’s really hard to get a read on the whole thing.
A few observations:
1. 90% of the ridership seems homeless
2. I never saw any fare inspections/​inspectors
3. I noticed maybe two people buying tickets over the course of three days
4. The cars were surprisingly clean
5. The trains do indeed run perpetually late
6. The operators when making announcements sound like they have the microphone in their armpits
7. The price is so cheap you would be an idiot not to use it if you can

Best ghettofied mass-​transit system around, second only to DC Metrorail. When the system opened twenty years ago, it was slow, and annoying, usually late and ran through unsavory parts of town. Now, things have changed. It’s much worse.
I have had the misfortune of having to ride the light rail a few dozen times this years and man, if there is anything MTA needs to invest in, it’s more transit police.
On the last trip, my train was delayed twenty minutes due to a shooting on the train. When that train arrived, we got two blocks before the police were called again. This time a brawl broke out.
I lost count of the number of times, I have to listen to a group of youths try to impress the «females» by going on about their gang activities, how many times they were arrested, how many summers they spent in lockup, or even jail over shooting someone. Bragging about rapes, stabbings and drug deals seems to be the topic of discussion quite often.
I do like when fare enforcement comes on the train, suddenly a third of the train alights. Then there’s always the issue of trains are constantly late, and lord forbid one only has to wait for 45 minutes on Baltimore Street to catch a train to BWI.
Still, feels safer than DC Metrorail which suffers from the same ailments, except at least MTA doesn’t regularly have fatalities due to vehicle strikes. (Against people, cars or other trains)

For what it’s worth, we took the light rail from BWI to Hamburg St. for the Ravens vs. Steelers game this weekend and both trips passed my standards with flying colors.
4 stars for being a few minutes late, but everything else was a breeze! That just happens to be a pet peeve of mine.
For all the world travelers, and apparent international public transportation critics, I’ve spent plenty of time on other cities’ systems. Keep in mind it is «public transportation.» Instead of crying, you can simply stay at home on the couch and save your $ 3.60 because you think it’s a little dirty, or a little «herky-​jerky» (did that guy really say that?). If you want a smooth ride, take your Cadillac in, sit in the traffic, complain about that, pay your $ 25 parking, complain about that, come back and complain about the door ding and key mark on the hood that weren’t there when you parked it, sit in the even worse traffic on the way out and complain about that, in between complaining about the food you just ate and the service that provided it, but by all means enjoy your «smooth ride.»
Some people shouldn’t leave the house.

As anyone who has lived here knows, Baltimore is a city of cars. Sure, we have the buses and the metro, but the former break down all the time and the latter has all of six stops and leads only to Owings Mills in the ‘burbs.
Thus, the lightrail. Built on an old Amtrak-​predecessor spur running North-​South through the center of town, the train currently connects Hunt Valley in the North to Cromwell Station in the South, with most downtown areas in between. As such, it provides a useful way of commuting for people from Hunt Valley through Coulmbia (if you are willing to drive a little.)
Prices are reasonable at $ 3.20 for a round-​trip ticket (weekly and monthly passes are available for the frequent tripper) and the train, in theory, runs every 10 minutes during the peak times, making it a useful way to commute. You can even get to the airport or the train station if you have time and are willing to change trams.
Now to the downsides:
1. The train is a bit dirty, but that’s nothing special given that it’s public transport. Just watch where you sit or stand and you will be just fine.
2. There are very frequent delays and cancellations resulting from both technical problems and accidents involving either cars or pedestrians. Given the wonderful driving of downtowners, this again is not a surprise, but does work as an annoyance. The train will also randomly break down in the following weather conditions: Cold, hot, snow, ice, rain, fog, and sunshine. This makes it somewhat easier to predict…
To its credit, the system is efficient and will send you an electronic alert if you sign up for it, telling you the scope of the problem and potential solutions, if available. MTA will usually set up bus bridges or guide you to the metro if possible.
3. It only goes North to South for now. They are working on an East-​West spur, but it’s still in the early stages. Thus, while good for us Northern burbers, anyone from the other compass signs has a drive ahead of them, usually on the rather annoying beltway.
Overall a solid system that could be improved upon.

Cheap to get around, kind of confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing. It was weird to by a ticket & not do anything with it… Nice that there is a stop right at Camden Yards & the convention center. It was pretty clean for public transportation.

The light rail was the cheapest way to get from the airport to Hunt Valley, where I was staying during my stint in Baltimore. For $ 1.60 per ride, I really couldn’t complain too much about it.
Yeah, it’s limited in where it takes you.
Yeah, it goes through some sketchy parts of town.
Yeah, I wouldn’t ride it alone at night (all the way to Hunt Valley).
But, otherwise, it’s fine. It’s one of those things that you just take in with a grain of salt.

Compared to the DC Metro, this is a joke of a system. It seems rinky-​dink and signs/​schedules/​etc. are rather confusing and poorly marked. But I thought it would be fine for a quick run into Baltimore from the airport to stay with a friend and then head back early in the morning for my flight out of the area.
I got to the BWI MTA rail stop on a Sunday at around 9:30 PM. I didn’t know that it had stopped running and there were no signs indicating that it had either. In fact, a small group of native Baltimoreans were gathered around the station and told me the train should be coming soon. After 15 minutes of waiting, a bus driver (from the DC Metro system) kindly informed us it had stopped already, so we had to take the 17 bus into the city instead. I decided to hold onto the ticket I had bought from the automated machine at the train station since the machine had still been running and I was under the DC Metro impression that buying tickets one day doesn’t mean they turn into a pumpkin at midnight. (Note to MTA: Shutting down your machines when the trains aren’t running would be highly, highly advisable).
The next morning at the lovely hour of 5:31 AM, I catch a southbound train from Lexington Market to get to the airport in time for my 7:10 AM flight. Things are fine until some MTA employee (I wish I had gotten her name) comes in and asks for tickets (note that MTA stops don’t have the gates that DC Metro stops have, so apparently they rely on random checks of tickets). I present the one I purchased the day before (it’s the same fare), but she goes ballistic and tells me it’s completely unacceptable. I explain that I’m a tourist, there was no obvious fine print saying I couldn’t use a ticket I bought 8 hours ago vs. one I bought 1 hour ago, I had a plane to catch, etc. but this… person must get a bounty for every hapless tourist kicked off the MTA train because she threatened the have police throw me off the train at the next stop unless I got off voluntarily. Not wanting to risk police involvement, I complied but thought that I would be fine because the next train was just 20 minutes behind (according to the schedule).
40 minutes later, the next train finally comes through. Nobody bothered to check tickets here (I bought another one anyways, another worthless donation to a worthless system), but the driver did feel the need to yell loudly about every stop in an incoherent voice. I get to BWI literally 30 minutes before my flight, but thanks to a series of sprints I was able to make it to the gate seconds before they closed the door to the aircraft. At least I got a bit of exercise out of the whole episode.
So congrats, MTA and your over-​zealous, idiotic employee on the 5:31 southbound train from Lexington Market. You have successfully dissuaded me from ever bothering with your system again. Stay away, folks.

Pros: It gets you where you want to go. It’s cheap ($ 1.60 each way).
Cons: I must be spoiled from taking the Washington Metro subway to work every day, because the light rail reminded me of back when I took the MetroBus. There’s even a button to push if you want to get off at the next stop, and to open the door. The light rail was crowded; when you were able to get a seat it was small and uncomfortable. People sat on the stairs. Trains run every 15 minutes on weekends, and it seems longer (of course, there’s no electronic sign telling you «X minutes until the next train»).