I was appalled to read in your paper that former Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich blasted Gov. Martin O'Malley over his administration's many failures to effectively and efficiently operate the MARC train service ("Amtrak pledges MARC improvements," July 1). To quote Mr. Ehrlich, " I make this promise to every Marylander who depends on MARC and rightfully expects quality service: State government's culture of indifference toward you and your quality of life will end if I am elected governor in November."

Mr. Ehrlich, where was your concern about quality service when you were governor? Your only concern was getting the inter-county connector built, MARC be damned. I wrote to your office numerous times asking for your assistance to have two elevators at the BWI Amtrak station fixed for MARC riders. The elevators were in a constant state of disrepair and as a person with multiple physical handicaps I sought your help. Walking up multiple flights of stirs to access the trains was very painful and, for some, impossible. Too often, I received replies from your Secretary of Transportation, Robert Flanagan, that it was Amtrak's responsibility, end of story.

It was only after contacting Maryland Delegates James E. Malone Jr. and Steven J. DeBoy that any action took place. And then it took well over one year to get the elevators repaired and still they did not function well day-to-day. My perception was that there was zero oversight by MARC officials of Amtrak's performance during your administration. I also wrote you on other numerous occasions about the constant breakdown of MARC train engines, the lack of respect for MARC riders and the failure of the cooling systems. And the response was: we plan to buy new engines, sometime. Mr. Ehrlich, I even attended a MDOT public meeting during your administration to discuss blueprints for constructing a Halethorpe station built for many hundreds MARC riders who use that facility on a daily basis. Halethorpe is adjacent to your home community of Arbutus and you could not even deliver on that pledge. Again, I was told by your officials that all funds were needed to build the inter-county connector. So, knowing your track record and that of Gov. O'Malley, who has committed the state to purchase new train engines and other numerous upgrades for MARC passengers, this MARC rider is voting for the O'Malley administration.

Alex Wolfe, Catonsville