Chesapeake (train)
1978–1983 Amtrak commuter train from Washington to Philadelphia
title: "Chesapeake (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["former-amtrak-routes", "passenger-rail-transportation-in-washington,-d.c.", "passenger-rail-transportation-in-maryland", "passenger-rail-transportation-in-delaware", "passenger-rail-transportation-in-pennsylvania", "railway-services-introduced-in-1978", "railway-services-discontinued-in-1983"] description: "1978–1983 Amtrak commuter train from Washington to Philadelphia" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1978–1983 Amtrak commuter train from Washington to Philadelphia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| box_width | 300px |
| name | Chesapeake |
| image | Amtrak Chesapeake demonstration run at Perryville, April 1978.jpg |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | Demonstration run of the Chesapeake on April 30, 1978, the day before regular service began |
| type | Commuter rail |
| status | Discontinued |
| locale | Mid-Atlantic states |
| first | May 1, 1978 |
| last | October 29, 1983 |
| successor | SEPTA |
| MARC Train | |
| formeroperator | Amtrak |
| start | Washington, DC |
| end | Philadelphia |
| distance | 134 mi |
| journeytime | 2 hour 18 minutes |
| frequency | Monday through Friday |
| trainnumber | 420, 421 |
| class | Unreserved coach |
| stock | Arrow |
| gauge | |
| el | 11.5 kV 25 Hz AC Overhead catenary |
| owners | Amtrak |
| map | |
| :: |
| box_width = 300px | name = Chesapeake | logo = | logo_width = | image = Amtrak Chesapeake demonstration run at Perryville, April 1978.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = Demonstration run of the Chesapeake on April 30, 1978, the day before regular service began | type = Commuter rail | status = Discontinued | locale = Mid-Atlantic states | predecessor = | first = May 1, 1978 | last = October 29, 1983 | successor = SEPTA MARC Train | operator = | formeroperator= Amtrak | ridership = | start = Washington, DC | stops = | end = Philadelphia | distance = 134 mi | journeytime = 2 hour 18 minutes | frequency = Monday through Friday | trainnumber = 420, 421 | class = Unreserved coach | access = | seating = | sleeping = | autorack = | catering = | observation = | entertainment= | baggage = | otherfacilities= | stock = Arrow | gauge = | el = 11.5 kV 25 Hz AC Overhead catenary | speed = | owners = Amtrak | routenumber = | map = | map_state = The Chesapeake was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1978 to 1983. It was one of the few commuter trains operated by Amtrak.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Elkton_station,_Elkton,_MD.JPG" caption="Elkton station is the only former ''Chesapeake'' station not currently served by Amtrak, MARC, or SEPTA."] ::
Service began 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. It was the first service at Elkton since 1967. BWI Rail Station was added to the service when it opened in October 1980. From February 4, 1980, to October 25, 1981, the Chesapeake was extended from 30th Street to Suburban Station.
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.
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. Commuter rail service is now provided over the former route of the Chesapeakeexcepting 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.
Station stops
The following station stops were made by Chesapeake trains during the October 1980 to October 1981 period: ::data[format=table]
| 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 | French Street Station | Now an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stop |
| Newark | Newark Rail Station | 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 station, 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 station, is now a Penn Line stop | |
| Lanham | Capital Beltway | Its 1983 replacement, New Carrollton station, is now an Amtrak and Penn Line stop | |
| Washington, D.C. | Union Station | Now Penn Line and Amtrak stop | |
| :: |
References
References
- [http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19780430&item=0019 Chesapeake Timetable; April 30, 1978 (Museum of Railway Timetables.org)]
- Baer, Christopher T.. (April 2015). "A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE SUCCESSORS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY AND THEIR HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1978". Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society.
- (July 25, 2008). "All Aboard at the Elkton Railroad Station".
- [http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19801026&item=0021 Chesapeake Timetable; October 26, 1980 (Museum of Railway Timetables.org)]
- Baer, Christopher T.. (April 2015). "A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE SUCCESSORS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY AND THEIR HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1980-89". Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society.
- Meyer, Eugene L.. (February 12, 1980). "A Commuter Train With a Split Personality: Commuter Train Shows A Changing Personality". Washington Post.
- (June 1981). "Trivia Quiz". On Track.
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