advertisement

---

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) recorded some of its best on-time performance (OTP) figures last month for MARC commuter-rail service.

The heavily used Penn Line, which accommodates more than 21,000 of MARC’s 32,000 daily passengers, posted OTPs of 97 percent in February and 96 percent through 2012’s first two months. In February 2011, the line’s OTP was 93 percent.

“There were only seven trains that performed below 95 percent for the month, and no trains below 80 percent,” MTA officials said in a prepared statement.

On the Brunswick Line, OTP reached 95 percent in February and 94 percent through two months versus 89 percent and 88 percent, respectively, for the same two 2011 periods.

The Camden Line’s OTP was 96 percent in February and 97 percent through two months compared with 91 percent in February 2011 and 92 percent through 2011’s first two months.

MTA officials attribute the service improvements to new diesel locomotives now in operation, schedule adjustments, track improvements, and better coordination with partners Amtrak and CSX Transportation. The milder winter also played a role, they said.