November 7, 2025
Dear South Shore Line Riders,
Last fall, I wrote to you about the challenges we were facing with “slippery rail” conditions along the South Shore Line during the autumn season here in northwest Indiana. At that time, we were experiencing extensive delays due to the impact of wheel slip, causing flat spots on our equipment. If these flat spots reach a certain threshold, for safety reasons, we take the equipment out of service. If this occurs en route, our passengers can experience lengthy service disruptions.
After discussions with other Midwest and northern passenger rail carriers, this year we have implemented a variety of strategies to minimize disruption. This includes temporary train acceleration and braking strategies, additional on-track equipment to remove leaf sediment from the rail, positioning of additional workforce and equipment to deal with issues as they arise, and, at certain locations, slower speed orders. I know many of our riders have experienced some of the delays associated with “slippery rail” that we are referring to as “temporary operating conditions” in our delay notices. Though on-time performance is very important, and many of our trains continue to make it to their destinations on time, we know that these “temporary operating conditions” are causing some trains to have minor delays.
We apologize for this inconvenience and understand this seasonal occurrence impacts your experience. We want to assure you that we are working to address wheel slips while maintaining schedule to the maximum extent possible. Our teams are operating around the clock to inspect, repair, and return cars to service.
Looking ahead, we will continue to explore emerging technologies, including laser systems and high-pressure water treatments. This year we purchased equipment to sweep/brush the rail to help remove leaf sediment that is now in service on a daily basis. We are committed to investing in long-term solutions to prevent future disruptions.
As always, we encourage you to stay informed about service changes and delays:
- Sign up for Service Alerts: Subscribe here using your email or mobile number.
- Visit our website: Service Updates
- Use the South Shore Line App: Tap “More” > “Delays/Alerts”
- Track trains in real time: Train Tracker
For additional information on the condition we call “slippery rail,” we refer you to an article in Forbes magazine entitled: Why Leaves on the Line Cause Problems for Trains.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep your journey safe and reliable. Thank you for your continued patience and for riding the South Shore Line.
Sincerely,
Michael Noland
President
South Shore Line / NICTD