I was on the 534. We didn't get to Penn Station til nearly 9pm (remember, we left DC at 5:17). It was over an hour just to go from the Halethorpe to Penn.

Those of us that are signed up for MARC email notifications received perhaps 2 message for the *entire evening*.

MARC/MTA are constantly apologizing for poor communications and keeping passengers uninformed, yet they never seem to make any progress on that front.

Apologies are nice, but here's what we really want:

* Reliable engines - a couple of back-up engines would be nice. I heard a conductor mention that when they send problem engines to the yard for service, the service yard often sends the engines back having done little or no work on them.

* Up-To-Date RELIABLE information when things go wrong - don't keep us in the dark. That is more annoying than the delays. Is it that hard to send an email or make an announcement? Why aren't MTA phones staffed during *all* hours during which MTA services operate?

I will add to the first comment that even when MARC employees make an announcement on the train... WE CAN'T HEAR IT! I was on the 5:20 last night and our conductor's made a few announcements during the 3 hour nightmare, but none of them were audible. It was only when a conductor walked through the car were we able to get any information.

The Penn Line delays had a negative effect on the Brunswick Line. Train 883, the LAST Brunswick Line train out of DC, was cancelled, because it uses the same trainset as Penn Line 450, the train with the broken locomotive.

I'm shocked that MARC would cancel the last train out of Union Station, since it leaves a lot of passengers stranded in DC. Apparently, MARC eventually got some Metrobuses to carry SOME of the passengers to their respective stations.

From Dr. Gridlock: Thank you, MARC riders, for the background about the problems you encountered on Monday.

As we enter the warm weather season, which stresses the MARC equipment, I'm expecting another wave of problems -- particularly on the Brunswick Line, judging from previous years. So please stay in touch about your experiences.

Best way to reach me is via e-mail at drgridlock@washpost.com. I also do online discussions with readers every other Monday. We're scheduled to have one this Monday, June 9, at 1 p.m.

It is surprising that Metro doesn't blame delays on MARC yet.

Horrible situation on the Brunswick line last night (trees on the tracks from the storms). Very poor communication from MARC as usual. I was at Union Station, the sign said "Brunswick Line Shut Down - No Buses Available" so I waited there. Eventually an announcement was made that passengers should go to Shady Grove via Metro to catch buses. I went to Shady Grove, waited for a bus which didn't come, then a MARC employee said to go back to Rockville because the "trains were running". I did that, but when the train finally came, the conductor said to expect an additional 4-5 hour delay. I ended up going back to Shady Grove (again) where I eventually caught a bus. Took almost 5 hours to get home from DC. I realize that MARC can't control the weather, but this whole situation was handled very poorly. Every passenger was given conflicting information on what to do and where to go.

This has been a horrible week for MARC. MARC/MTA has terribly disappointed its customers by its total lack of preparedness and concern for its influx of passengers due to rising gas prices. While most of the conductors I've dealt with are very pleasant, Mr. Sherman Spivey, whom is the conductor on the Penn Line 407 train, in very unpleasant on the best of days, but even more so on the days the trains are more packed. His is rude, won't let people board, closes the door on people as they are boarding. Please beware of this man.