Legislatively-mandated fare increases for MARC & Commuter Bus – which had been scheduled for 2020 but were delayed due to the pandemic – became effective June 27, 2021. Fares on these services vary by zone. Click here for info.
CharmPass Mobile Transit Fare App
CharmPass, MDOT MTA's mobile transit fare app for Apple and Android devices, brings the convenience of fare purchasing directly to your smartphone, allowing you to safely and securely purchase One-Way, 5-Day, 7-Day, and 31-Day passes on the Penn Line, Camden Line, and Brunswick Line. Flexible pass options with CharmFlex 6-pack and 20-pack one-way fares are also available in the app. With CharmPass, your fare is always in your pocket. Download today for complete MARC Fare access.
MARC Ticket Vending Machines
MARC ticket vending machines offer Apple Pay® and Google Pay, plus credit and debit options and transit subsidy and benefit programs (select locations accept cash). Discount fare options and select Commuter Bus tickets are available for purchase at MARC TVM's as well. TVM's can be found at the following MARC Train stations:
All three lines: Washington Union Station*
Frederick has a
ticket agent but not
a TVM
* Machine accepts cash at these locations + Tickets also available at ticket agents
TVM pre-registration for SmartBenefits and Discounted fares
Click here to sign up to use your SmartBenefits or Senior, Disabled, or student discounts at any MARC Ticket Vending Machine. For SmartBenefits, you must set up your account by the 15th of the month for the following month's benefits.
Ticket by mail via MTA.CommuterDirect.com
One-way, weekly, monthly and Transit Link Cards (TLC) are available as one-time or renewable orders at Commuter Direct's website or by calling 410-697-2212; TDD at 800-828-1120.
Ticket Agent
Ticket agents are available at Odenton and Frederick stations, and the TRiPS Transit Services Store is adjacent to the Silver Spring station (Level 2, Sarbanes Transit Center). Tickets can be purchased with cash, major credit cards or Commuter Choice Maryland vouchers. MARC tickets are also sold at the Commuter Stores. They accept cash, company check, traveler’s checks, money orders, all major credit cards, as well as company-sponsored debit cards (e.g. TRANServe Visa). Click here for a full list of Commuter Stores.
On-Board from the Conductor
One-way tickets may be purchased on board MARC Trains with cash only; no debit or credit cards or checks are accepted. Tickets purchased on trains are subject to a $5.00 surcharge if the ticket vending machine was available and/or the ticket office was open at train departure time. The $5.00 surcharge applies to all passengers except senior and disability fares. Conductors cannot accept any bill denominations above $20 for cash purchases on trains. Passengers presenting bills larger than $20 will be asked to leave the train at the next station with a TVM or a ticket office to purchase their ticket. All ticket sales on board the train are final and are non-refundable.
What kinds of tickets are available?
Good for a single one-way trip between the station or zones indicated on the ticket. Tickets expire six months from the purchase date. Tickets are valid for travel in either direction.
Good for unlimited travel between the stations indicated on the ticket beginning on the Monday of the designated week until midnight of the following Friday. This ticket is not valid for any travel on Saturdays or Sundays. The 5-Day Weekly can only be purchased at mta.commuterdirect.com, the four Commuter Stores and Odenton and Frederick MARC stations.
Good for unlimited travel between the stations indicated on the ticket beginning on the Saturday of the designated week until midnight of the following Friday.
Good for unlimited travel between the stations indicated on the ticket during a calendar month. They are non-transferable, but partially refundable up to the 10th service day of the month.
Tickets Valid on Connecting Transit
Weekly and Monthly tickets can be used on the following: MTA Local Bus, Light Rail, Baltimore Metro Subway and Neighborhood Shuttles; WMATA Metrobus (base fare only) in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia; Montgomery County RIDE ON and Frederick County TransIT. Weekly or monthly Frederick or Monocacy ticket holders may also ride MTA Commuter Bus Route 515 between Frederick, MD and Shady Grove Metrorail Station.
TLC (Transit Link Card)
In addition to the MARC monthly ticket and the transit options it provides, the TLC adds unlimited Washington Metrorail travel for one calendar month. The TLC is available for purchase at Commuter Stores, MARC Odenton Station and mta.commuterdirect.com . The website also provides the current price of this product. Please note that this product is non-refundable under any circumstance.
Qualifying customers receive a 50 percent discount off the price of all full-fare MARC tickets, except the Washington Metrorail portion of the TLC. Senior citizens (65 and older) must show one of the following:
Seniors (65 and older) who do not have a driver's license may apply for a Maryland Photo Identification Card at any Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office. There is no fee.
Qualifying customers receive a 50 percent discount off the price of all full-fare MARC tickets, except the Washington Metrorail portion of the TLC. Individuals with disabilities must show one of the following:
To obtain an MTA Reduced Fare Disability ID card, an application must be filled out by the applicant and the applicant’s health care professional. The application is available at the Reduced Fare Certification Office (410-767-3441).
Applicants must return the completed application by fax (410-333-4347), by mail (MTA Reduced Fare Certification Office, 6 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202), or in person. The Disability Reduced Fare Card is not available the same day that the application is received. The applicant, if approved, will be notified when to come in and have their photo taken, and an ID card will be issued on that day.
For further information, call the MTA Reduced Fare Certification Office at 410-767-3441, or TTY 410-333-2051 for people who are hearing and/or speech impaired. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Members of the Student Advantage program are eligible for a 15% discount on one-way, weekly and monthly tickets. Click here for full information.
Two children under the age of six may ride free of charge when accompanied by a full-fare paying passenger. Additional children (under the age of six) and children age six and above will be charged the appropriate full fare. The free-child allowance does not apply to passengers traveling on any type of reduced fare.
Groups of 10 to 60 may receive the group rate of 50 percent off the price of a full-fare MARC ticket for travel. Availability of group fares is dependent on train capacity and average daily ridership. Midday, late night and weekend trains have the most availability for group travel. Contact the MARC Group Sales Office at 410-674-4885 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. or email to groupmoves@tcstransportation.com at least two weeks in advance to make reservations. Groups must receive a confirmation in order to receive the group rate. Group tickets are not issued at MARC or Amtrak ticket locations without confirmation through the MARC Group Sales Office. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
What else do I need to know about my tickets?
Lost, damaged or stolen tickets are non-refundable and irreplaceable. MARC will not issue replacement tickets. Please check with the attendant at Gate B in Union Station to see if your ticket has been turned in.
Do not laminate tickets as this will make them unreadable. Please write your name and contact number on your ticket so that it can be returned to you if found. If tickets are found please turn them in to Gate B at Union Station or to a conductor.
One-way tickets are non-refundable.
Both types of weekly tickets are refundable if the return postmark is dated no later than 11:59 p.m. the Friday prior to the effective week. Monthly and TLC tickets are refundable when presented at a ticket office or based on return postmark dated, as follows:
| Postmarked prior to effective month | 100% refund |
| Postmarked 1st through 5th of effective month | 75% refund |
| Postmarked 6th through 10th of effective month | 50% refund |
| Postmarked after the 10th of effective month | 0% refund |
| The Transit Link Card (TLC) portion is non-refundable under any circumstance. | |
Refunds will not be given for any tickets purchased with transit benefits.
Tickets must be returned for refund from where they were purchased. For MARC ticket vending machines, call the toll-free number listed on the machine (888-291-0207) for assistance and for CharmPass purchases, call toll-free 833-242-7622.