Laurel station (MARC)

Laurel station

Company type	Train station
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1884
Founder	Ephraim Francis Baldwin (architect)
Headquarters	Laurel, Maryland , United States
Products	Passenger rail service

Laurel is a notable historic train station serving passengers on the MARC Camden Line in Laurel, Maryland. Positioned between Washington Union Station in the District of Columbia and Baltimore's Camden Station, it was established in 1884. The station, crafted by architect Ephraim Francis Baldwin in the distinctive Queen Anne architectural style, accommodates roughly 680 riders daily based on 2018 figures, marking a 2.7% growth in usage. Its infrastructure includes two side platforms alongside two tracks, a parking lot with 396 spaces, and provisions for cyclists with 10 bicycle lockers. Accessibility is ensured throughout the facility, which also offers connections to local bus lines such as Metrobus P12 and RTA 409.

Station

Constructed in 1884 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on its Washington Branch, the Laurel station lies approximately halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. The brick building, designed by E. Francis Baldwin, presents a one-and-a-half-story modified rectangular layout topped with overhanging gabled and hipped roofs supported by brackets and adorned with terra cotta cresting. Its architectural features include a louvered lunette, decorative stick work, fish-scale patterned shingles, and segmental arched windows, all characteristic of the Queen Anne aesthetic. This design closely parallels Baldwin’s 1884 Gaithersburg station in both size and floor plan but differs in roof design and site context.

Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, Laurel station resumed operation as part of the MARC Camden Line. In January 1992, a fire inflicted significant damage to its interior spaces, roofing structure, and brick walls.

In February 2009, notable figures including Vice President Joe Biden, Governor Martin O'Malley, and Senator Ben Cardin visited Laurel station to highlight an economic stimulus plan that allocated funds for platform reconstruction as part of broader Maryland infrastructure enhancements. After legislative approval, renovation work commenced by mid-March on a six-month schedule aimed at upgrading both the platform and station amenities.

Station layout

The facility consists of two side platforms flanking the tracks with a station building adjacent to the southbound side. The entire station meets standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to ensure accessibility.

External links

• , featuring a 1975 photograph from Maryland Historical Trust
• Main Street entrance view via Google Maps Street View