Instead of complaining about the long commute to his job in Baltimore, Terence J. Morse is devoting his energies to getting a passenger train back on track in Sykesville.
"We have a track that goes down to Camden Yards," said Mr. Morse, a mechanical engineer at University of Maryland at Baltimore. "Let's investigate the possibility of a commuter run."
Mr. Morse has a lot of work ahead before he hears "all aboard" in the town of about 1,500.
Many commuters spend 45 minutes or more each way on their way to and from work.
"I am going to keep pursuing this idea until I am convinced that either it works or it doesn't," said Mr. Morse.
CSX Railroad now uses the Old Main Line, a single track, for freight runs from Frederick County to Camden Yards in Baltimore.
"It's a much-used track, a main line for coal transport," said Rob Gould, CSX manager of media relations.
"How much use it gets depends on customer needs."
The track feeds into lines, which Maryland Rail Commuter
Service (MARC) uses for trains to Baltimore and Washington, said Kathy Waters, MARC acting director.
"Theoretically, a passenger could go to either city," Ms. Waters said.
The first challenge for Mr. Morse, she said, would be to "address the situation with CSX."
She would recommend "further study and analysis," before MARC made any financial commitments. Mr. Morse's quest is not an impossible one, she said.
"Many people are noticing tracks through their communities and expressing serious interest in using them," she said.
"Often, a grass-roots effort has a way of working up the ladder to serious consideration."
Ms. Waters is not surprised at the interest in reviving the line.
"More and more, commuters are looking to trains, especially those people who sit on the highway in traffic and watch the
trains go by," she said.
Trains on Old Main Line wouldn't race by. The scenic route along the Patapsco River and through Patapsco Park into Baltimore operates on a twisting track through several tunnels. Maximum speed would be about 40 mph, with decreases to 25 mph on the steeper turns.
"The idea would have to studied as part of an overall analysis," Ms. Waters said.
About three years ago, the state completed a commuter-assistance study, which looked at off-line extensions to existing rail service. Old Main Line was considered only briefly, she said.
"Old Main Line was not a preferred route," she said. "Currently, it is a single track with a number of tunnels and little space to redo the lines. It would be exceedingly expensive and difficult to operate as a commuter service. There are so many issues people don't even think of."
Issues and obstacles don't deter Mr. Morse.
"As a citizens group, we have to convince the MTA that it's in their best interest to pursue this," he said.
Mr. Morse is trying to get a handle on realistic costs, for botoperator and commuter.
"I wouldn't push for something that needs heavy government subsidies," he said. "It has to be economically viable and stand on its own two feet."
The Town Council has been receptive to Mr. Morse's idea.
RF "I would love to see the train running again, and it's a beautiful
route," said Mayor Jonathan Herman. "You are headed in the right direction. It takes the public to work on items like this."
Since Mr. Morse spoke to the Town Council two weeks ago, he has had several calls from people with opinions to express, most of them supporting him. But not everyone who called agreed with him.
Eldersburg resident Dave Cross said Mr. Morse should "read a map and figure out his best route. You can get to Baltimore in 25 minutes."
Craig Sturm, also of Eldersburg, said many residents are not interested in mass transit.
"Most would rather deal with traffic than have a metro near their homes," he said. "If you move out here, you commit to a long-distance drive to work."
Mr. Cross also fears an increase in crime would accompany any rail line into the area.
"We could get a lot of undesirables on those trains," he said.
Police in Brunswick, a Frederick County town of 5,000 that has rail service to Washington, say they have seen "no direct relationship" between crime and commuter lines.
"I don't want anyone opposed to feel I am ignoring their concerns," said Mr. Morse, who offered several proposals to allay the fears.
He envisions a line, which would make only morning and evening runs, with ticket purchases limited to the Sykesville terminal.
He plans to continue his effort, until he exhausts all possibilities.
"Economics drives this decision," he said. "If there is any way to make it fly profitably, CSX will lease the lines for a commuter run. All I am asking is for them to look at the possibility."