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BWI Rail Station

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Coordinates: 39°11′33″N 76°41′41″W / 39.192377°N 76.694645°W / 39.192377; -76.694645
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This article is about a regional and inter-city rail station. For the light rail station at BWI, see BWI Marshall Airport (Baltimore Light Rail station).

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, MD
The station viewed from the adjacent parking garage in 2014
General information
Location7 Amtrak Way
BWI Airport, Maryland
United States
Coordinates39°11′33″N 76°41′41″W / 39.192377°N 76.694645°W / 39.192377; -76.694645
Owned byAmtrak
Line(s)Northeast Corridor
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks3
ConnectionsBaltimore Light Rail via Shuttle bus
Bus transport MTA Bus 17, MTA Bus 201
Bus transport Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland Route 501/Silver
Bus transport UMBC Transit
Construction
ParkingYes
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeBWI
History
Opened1980
Passengers
2015669,609 annually[1] Decrease 3.3% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
Template:Amtrak lines
Template:Amtrak lines
Template:Amtrak lines
MARC
Template:MARC lines

BWI Airport station is a train station located in an unincorporated area within Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is served by Amtrak intercity services (frequent Northeast Regional and Acela Express trains plus the daily Vermonter and Palmetto) and MARC Penn Line regional rail service.

The station is located on the airport complex just over a mile from the main terminal of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. A free shuttle bus runs between the station and the airport terminal every 12 minutes from 5 am to 1 am and every 25 minutes from 1 am to 5 am.[2]

History

The existing station and adjacent parking garage

The station was dedicated on October 23, 1980, and was the first intercity rail station in the U.S. built to service an airport.[3] It is about a 20-minute train ride south of Baltimore's Penn Station, a 20-minute ride north of New Carrollton, Maryland (and its connection with the Orange Line of Washington Metro), and a 35-minute ride north of Washington's Union Station.

The station's building houses a ticketing desk, waiting room, and a concessions area. The adjacent parking garage is used by commuters who ride the train to work in Baltimore or Washington, and also contains the bus stop for shuttles to the BWI terminal. The garage was built in the late 1990s to replace a smaller surface lot. It contains 3,200 parking spaces and typically does not fill to capacity.[4] The Carolinian served the station between 1991 and 2004.

Platform renovations

The 1,050 feet (320 m) high-level platforms were rebuilt and lengthened in 2006–10.[5] The existing structures were replaced with new precast concrete segments, and new signs, lights, shelters, railing, canopies, and benches were installed.[6]

Future expansion

$9.4 million has been allocated for design and engineering of a new station building and fourth track, which is expected to cost $80–100 million. The existing station will be demolished to make way for the new track and platform, and a new station—twice the size of the old—will be built.[7][8] The Federal Railroad Administration issued a Finding Of No Significant Impact—a major step in the environmental review process—in February 2016. This will allow final design and construction to proceed once funding is obtained.[9]

Connecting transportation

A Northeast Regional train at the station

A number of transportation services connect to the station, including a dedicated taxi stand. Some of these services include Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Bus, BWI Shuttle, and University of Maryland Baltimore County Transit Shuttle. While rental cars are not available at the station, the nearby BWI consolidated rental car facility is accessible via the station's other connecting modes.

Local public transit services

Pedestrian and bicycle access

  • BWI Trail: A hiker/biker trail completely encircles the airport grounds parallel to the Airport Loop, and runs adjacent to the station.[11]
  • An elevated walkway connects the station (at the second floor of the southbound platform's stairwell) with office buildings on Corporate Center Drive, including the Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters.

References

  1. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2015, State of Maryland" (PDF). Amtrak Government Affairs. November 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  2. ^ "Ground Transportation: Amtrak". Maryland Aviation Administration. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  3. ^ "BWI Rail Station dedication booklet, 1980". Amtrak. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  4. ^ "Availability of MARC Parking". Archived from the original on July 12, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Maryland Transit Administration renovates BWI station platforms". Progressive Railroading. Trade Press Media Group, Inc. November 24, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  6. ^ "MARC Council January 2010 Meeting Minutes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Governor O'Malley Applauds President Obama for High Speed Rail Investment in Maryland" (Press release). State of Maryland. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2010.
  8. ^ "Maryland has plans for bigger BWI rail station". Railway Track and Structures. New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. September 9, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "FRA Gives Green Light to Rebuild BWI Rail Station, Increase Service and Reliability" (Press release). Federal Railroad Administration. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  10. ^ "Bus Routes". Maryland Transit Administration. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "The BWI Trail". Bike Washington. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
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