Frederick Douglass Tunnel with Electrified Trains

Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program

The Frederick Douglass Tunnel is the centerpiece of this Program, featuring two new tunnel tubes serving primarily MARC and Amtrak passengers. The new tunnel is named in honor of Frederick Douglass, a Maryland native and an early leader in the fight for the rights of women and minorities. He was also a frequent railroad passenger after escaping to his freedom by boarding a train in Baltimore.

The Existing Tunnel

The B&P Tunnel, located in Baltimore, dates from the Civil War era. At nearly 150 years old, it is the oldest tunnel along this section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and is a bottleneck for operations of MARC and Amtrak passenger trains. The 1.4-mile tunnel, connecting Amtrak’s Penn Station to MARC’s West Baltimore station, is impacted by a variety of age-related issues including excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure, and a sinking floor. The tunnel does not include any of the modern fire and life safety systems that help keep passengers safe in the event of emergencies, and extensive maintenance is required. These factors are evidence that now is the time to provide the 9 million MARC and Amtrak customers in this area with a modern tunnel that delivers a faster, more reliable trip.

The New Tunnel Alignment

This Program will modernize and transform a ten-mile section of the NEC. The work will include the construction of:

Two new high-capacity tunnel tubes that will primarily serve electrified passenger trains
New roadway and railroad bridges
New rail systems, track and railroad infrastructure
A new ADA-accessible West Baltimore MARC station

Get Involved

Visit our community outreach page to learn about upcoming public meetings, our engagement in your community and how to stay up to date on the Program.

Key Program Benefits

Sustainability

Promoting a More Sustainable Future with Electrified Trains

The two new Frederick Douglass Tunnel tubes being built will primarily serve electrified MARC and Amtrak trains. MDOT MTA will electrify its MARC Penn Line trains, and diesel freight trains will only be allowed in the two new tunnel tubes under temporary or emergency operations.

The Program will also include solar power generation at multiple locations, making the Northeast Corridor even greener.

Time Savings

Enabling Baltimore to Washington in Under 30 Minutes

After the Program is complete, MARC and Amtrak trains could travel between Baltimore and Washington in under 30 minutes.

Safety

Making Travel Safer

The new Frederick Douglass Tunnel will include modern fire and life safety systems, including emergency egress pathways to the surface and fire ventilation systems that help keep passengers safe in the event of emergencies.

Sustainability Time Savings Safety

Community Investment Program (CIP)

Amtrak is committed to investing $50M in the West Baltimore community.

The Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program’s CIP is the first initiative of its kind for Amtrak.

Amtrak has committed to an overall CIP budget of $50 million which will be invested over the duration of the Program. Investments will be made through community grants and direct investments, with projects covering six categories:

Community Development
Workforce Development
Parks and Recreation
Community Gardens, Vacant Lots and Public Space
Transportation
Historic Preservation

Read the Community Investment Program Guide (April 2024)

To learn about additional program details, our engagement in the community, and how to stay up to date on the community grant application process visit our Community Investment Program page

Additional Resources

Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program Fact Sheet

Frederick Douglass Tunnel FAQ 2024

FDT Archaeology Fact Sheet

FDT Subsurface Acquisition Guide

FDT Demolition Fact Sheet

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the B&P Tunnel Project. In making its decision, FRA considered the information and analysis included in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS & FEIS) for the project and public and agency comments.

FRA has prepared this ROD in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.), the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA Regulations (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500-1508), the FRA Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 Federal Register 28545 [May 26, 1999]), and FRA’s Update to NEPA Implementing Procedures (78 Federal Register Part 2713 [January 14, 2013]).