BWI Airport station (Light RailLink)
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Maryland |
| Products | Light rail transit services |
BWI Airport station serves as a terminal for the Baltimore Light RailLink system located at Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Maryland. It functions as one of the two southern endpoints of the Baltimore Light Rail line. The station’s platforms are positioned immediately outside the lower level entrance to the International Concourse.
Since its inauguration in 1997, the station initially offered train services to Penn Station at intervals of 34 minutes. By 2023, service frequency improved to trains departing every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours, traveling toward Hunt Valley.
The station, alongside the airport, is accessible via bus routes operated by the Maryland Transit Administration, specifically LocalLink 75 and route 201, which provide continuous 24-hour service. Regional connectivity is further supported by Howard Transit's Silver Route, facilitating access to neighboring markets.
Station layout
| Platform | ||
| Northbound | Template:Rcb heading toward Template:Mtams (Template:Mtams) → | |
| Island platform | ||
| Northbound | Template:Rcb heading toward Template:Mtams (Template:Mtams) → | |
| G | Street level | Entrance/exit, bus connections, and BWI Airport arrivals level |
Incidents
In the year 2000, two separate light rail trains failed to halt properly at this station, colliding with end bumpers and causing damage to the station’s roof structure. Investigations revealed that one operator was impaired by cocaine and oxycodone use; this individual was subsequently dismissed and faced charges of reckless endangerment. The second operator was found to be fatigued due to prescribed medication.
As a safety response to these events, a trip-stop mechanism was introduced, mandating that operators come to a complete stop and manually deactivate the device before entering the station area. Furthermore, a more rigorous medical evaluation policy was adopted following directives from the Federal Transit Administration to improve overall operational safety.