The Chesapeake was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1978 until 1983. It was one of the few commuter trains operated by Amtrak.
History
The Chesapeake began operation 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.Chesapeake Timetable; April 30, 1978 (Museum of Railway Timetables.org) It was the first service at Elkton since 1967. BWI Rail Station was added to the service when it opened in October 1980.Chesapeake Timetable; October 26, 1980 (Museum of Railway Timetables.org) 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: StateCityStationNotesPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaSuburban StationNow a Wilmington/Newark Line stop30th Street Station Now an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stopChesterChester Transit CenterNow a Wilmington/Newark Line stopDelawareWilmingtonWilmingtonNow an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stopNewarkNewarkNow an Amtrak and Wilmington/Newark Line stopMarylandElktonElktonPerryvillePerryvilleNow a Penn Line stopAberdeenAberdeenNow a Penn Line and Amtrak stopEdgewoodEdgewoodNow a Penn Line stopBaltimorePennsylvania StationNow a Penn Line and Amtrak stopEdmondsonIts replacement, West Baltimore, is now a Penn Line stopLinthicumBaltimore AirportNow a Penn Line and Amtrak stopOdentonOdentonNow a Penn Line stopBowieBowieIts 1989 replacement, Bowie State, is now a Penn Line stopLanhamCapital BeltwayIts 1983 replacement, New Carrollton, is now an Amtrak and Penn Line stopWashington, D.C.Union StationNow Penn Line and Amtrak stop
See also List of Amtrak routes#Northeast Corridor for other Amtrak trains named Chesapeake.
References
External links October 1, 1979 Amtrak Chesapeake Timetable (Railroad Picture Archives) Inaugural Run of Amtrak's Chesapeake (Window on Cecil County's Past)