ABB LRV 5043

Location: Camden Station, Baltimore, MD
Operator of Vehicle: MDOT MTA
Date of Photo: June 16, 2009

On this date in 1992, the Baltimore Light Rail began revenue operations.  The line’s initial segment operated from Timonium to Camden Yards, adjacent to the Orioles new stadium that opened the same day.  Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer advocated for the construction of the line in order to facilitate travel to the new ballpark.  The line was constructed without federal funding, which is a rarity for US rapid transit construction, using the right of way previously used by several interurban streetcar and commuter rail routes, the Northern Central Railway, Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway and Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad.  Service was extended such that by 1997, the system reached its current extent, operating as far north as Hunt Valley and as far south as BWI Airport and Glen Burnie.  There is also a short spur line to Baltimore Penn Station.

Initially, much of the line outside of downtown was single track in order to save money during construction.  This limited service to 17 minute frequencies, so the line was closed down in portions in order to double track it between 2004 and 2006.  The original rolling stock still operates on the line, though it received a mid-life overhaul in the mid-2010s.  Also in 2017, the system was rebranded “Light RailLink” in conjunction with the BaltimoreLink bus network redesign.

For more photos of the Baltimore Light Rail, please click here.