Two trains on the southbound MARC Penn Line from Baltimore to Washington will have designated "quiet cars" starting Monday to meet the demands of commuters who want a train ride free of cell phones and loud conversations, the Maryland Transportation Administration said yesterday.

Riders on such cars will be asked to turn off their cell phones, set their pagers to vibrate and mute the volume on their laptop computers. The MTA also asks that passengers keep their conversations to a minimum and that commuters traveling with children not ride in the quiet car.

The experiment will last three months and could be expanded if it proves popular, officials said.

The quiet cars will be the last cars on Penn Line Trains 401 and 503, which leave Baltimore's Penn Station at 4:48 a.m. and 5:35 a.m., respectively.