Chesapeake (train)
1978–1983 Amtrak commuter train from Washington to Philadelphia
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The Chesapeake was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1978 until 1983. It was one of the few commuter trains operated by Amtrak.
Demonstration run of the Chesapeake on April 30, 1978, the day before regular service began | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Commuter rail |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Mid-Atlantic states |
| First service | May 1, 1978 |
| Last service | October 29, 1983 |
| Successor | SEPTA MARC Train |
| Former operator | Amtrak |
| Route | |
| Termini | Washington, D.C. Philadelphia |
| Distance travelled | 134 miles (216 km) |
| Average journey time | 2 hour 18 minutes |
| Service frequency | Monday through Friday |
| Train number | 420, 421 |
| On-board services | |
| Class | Unreserved coach |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Arrow |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Electrification | 11.5 kV 25 Hz AC Overhead catenary |
| Track owner | Amtrak |
History
The Chesapeake began operation on May 1, 1978, with funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland. A demonstration trip ran from Philadelphia to Bowie on April 30.[1][2] It was the first service at Elkton since 1967.[3] BWI Rail Station was added to the service when it opened in October 1980.[4] From February 4, 1980, to October 25, 1981, the Chesapeake was extended from 30th Street to Suburban Station.[5]
The train primarily served higher-ranking business executives and government officials on the southbound trip in the morning, as it arrived too late for most civil servants. The northbound trip primarily served the latter group, as it departed too early to serve the morning riders for their return trip.[6]
On January 1, 1983, Conrail was relieved of its obligation to run commuter service. Commuter service in Pennsylvania was merged into SEPTA Regional Rail, and MDOT contracted with Amtrak to run other Washington–Baltimore commuter trips. The Chesapeake was discontinued on October 30, 1983 and replaced by an unnamed Washington–Baltimore train.[5] Commuter rail service is now provided over the former route of the Chesapeake – excepting the segment between Perryville and Newark – by the SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line and MARC Penn Line.
Equipment
The Chesapeake operated with leased Arrow electric multiple units.[7]
Station stops
The following station stops were made by Chesapeake trains during the October 1980 to October 1981 period:
| State | City | Station | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Suburban Station | Now a Wilmington/Newark Line stop |
| 30th Street Station | Now an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stop | ||
| Chester | Chester Transit Center | Now a Wilmington/Newark Line stop | |
| Delaware | Wilmington | Wilmington | Now an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stop |
| Newark | Newark | Now an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stop | |
| Maryland | Elkton | Elkton | |
| Perryville | Perryville | Now a Penn Line stop | |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Now a Penn Line and Amtrak stop | |
| Edgewood | Edgewood | Now a Penn Line stop | |
| Baltimore | Pennsylvania Station | Now a Penn Line and Amtrak stop | |
| Edmondson | Its replacement, West Baltimore, is now a Penn Line stop | ||
| Linthicum | Baltimore Airport | Now a Penn Line and Amtrak stop | |
| Odenton | Odenton | Now a Penn Line stop | |
| Bowie | Bowie | Its 1989 replacement, Bowie State, is now a Penn Line stop | |
| Lanham | Capital Beltway | Its 1983 replacement, New Carrollton, is now an Amtrak and Penn Line stop | |
| Washington, D.C. | Union Station | Now Penn Line and Amtrak stop | |
See also
- List of Amtrak routes#Northeast Corridor for other Amtrak trains named Chesapeake.